5 Cold Fighting Foods

It is the start of a new year and we are getting to the start of the Cold and Flu Season. Of course we will all want to take caution to avoid being sick. But if it does happen you should be ready, and will be ready with these five remedies you can find in your own kitchen!

1. Yogurt - This one is more preventative rather than a remedy for the cold. You should try to include yogurt in your daily diet because there are so many health benefits. It doesn't take a lot, just one 8 oz serving can give you many great health benefits. For starters, the beneficial bacteria in some active yogurt cultures will actually boos your immune system help prevent colds. It is an excellent source of protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin B 12. When yogurt is compared to milk, yogurt contains more calcium and protein because of the added cultures in the yogurt. So you can see why it can be such a wonderful addition to your diet.
2. Chicken Soup - It would be wrong for me not to list Chicken Soup. It's not just a comfort food anymore! Interestingly enough, scientific evidence supports what many have always believed. Chicken Soup has healing properties. Chicken Soup was first prescribed by a 12th century physician named Moses Maimonides. The steam helps relieve congestion. Ingredients commonly added to the soup, such as garlic and pepper work like most cough medicines by thinning out the mucus making breathing easier. The fat in the broth helps sooth your throat. And of course, it is a comfort food that can always make you feel a little better.
3. Honey - Honey is wonderful for a cold or even just a sore throat. You can add it to your tea or just eat a spoonful. It helps coat your throat and has been proven in a study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine that honey as more effective in relieving coughs than over the counter cough medicines. It also has mild antibiotic effects.
4. Pineapple Juice - I know this one might sound a bit odd... but hear me out. When you are sick it is important to stay hydrated. You'll also want to make sure to get some extra Vitamin C. Pineapple Juice is the perfect solution because it is less acidic than orange juice making it gentler on the stomach and it has the same amount of Vitamin C. It also contains an enzyme called Bromelain. Bromelain will help with aches and pains associated with your cold. It is also anti-inflammatory and will help sooth a sore throat and swollen glands. So as strange as it sounds... Pineapple Juice is great for a cold!
5. Garlic - What can I say? Garlic is amazing it can cure just about everything and has been used for thousands of years for it's benefits to the immune system. It has antibiotic properties and is directly effective against viruses. It also doesn't hurt that it is anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic.

Hopefully you will stay well this cold season. But if you do become ill I hope that these five foods will help make you feel better.