Foods Needed at Home to Fight Colds

The winter time is the time of colds. When catching a cold, seeing the doctor can be hard because the winter time is the time of year when the doctors are the busiest. One can always treat his or her cold with store bought medicine. However, over the counter cold medicines can be addictive, and many of them contain alcohol and can cause drowsiness.

Food Needed For A Strong Immune System

During the winter be sure to keep a lot of fresh frozen fruits and vegetables.

In vegetables keep plenty of dark leafy greens such as kale, chard, collard and mustard greens, green beans, and celery.

Have root foots such as, carrots, potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes.

In fruits keep apples, banana's, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and margarine.

Also have plenty of garlic and onions.

Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants needed for a healthy immune systems. Make sure fruits and vegetables are apart of every meal.

Also be sure to eat plenty of squash such as butternut squash and pumpkin.

Instead of soda and alcohol, stock up on sugar free fruit juices.

Food Needed To Remedy Common Cold Symptoms

Other important foods to keep in stock are honey, ground cinnamon, liquorice oil, cinnamon oil, almonds, and yogurt and cheese. These items can be used in the following home remedies that I learned from friends and family:

Treating Coughs

Remedy #1- Mix one table spoon of honey with one cup of grape juice. Drink this at least twice a day.

Remedy #2- Soak a handful of almonds in water overnight. In the morning remove the brown skin. Ground the soaked almonds into paste. To the almond paste add a tablespoon of butter and tablespoon of honey. Take the paste in the morning and evening. This remedy works best for a dry cough.

Remedy #3- Juice a small whole yellow onion and add an equal amount of honey to give it a sweet syrup taste. Two tablespoons of this mixture should be taken at least twice daily. I found this remedy to be very effective, and I use it whenever I get a cough.

Treating Sore Throat

Remedy #1- Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to one cup of boiling hot water. Add two tablespoons of honey.

When at work or school it would be inconvenient to boil and drink cinnamon water. So instead, take a clean small bottle with a screw on eye dropper top. The bottle should be 4 fl. Oz (60 ml). In the bottle add enough cinnamon oil and honey so one half of the bottle will be oil and the other half will be honey. Mix well together. Keep the little bottle of oil and honey in one's purse of pocket. An eye dropper full will relieve the throat. The results are excellent. Take it throughout the day when needed.

Remedy #2- liquorice can relieve a sore throat instantly. Unfortunately actual fresh liquorice is impossible to find in stores. Instead one can use liquorice oil. Prepare the oil with honey in a small bottle with a screw on eye dropped top. Prepare the mixture in the same way as the cinnamon oil and honey is prepared.

Treating Stuffy Nose

Cut a fresh onion and sniff if. This provides immediate stuffy nose relief but will cause watery eyes.

Treating A Runny Nose

Eat yogurt. When the nose runs constantly, this is a sign that a person lacks mucus in the nasal passage. Dairy food such as yogurt and cheese will create mucus needed in the nasal passage. However, eat in moderation.

Remember that good food can be the best treatment for a cold. So in the winter keep plenty of it in the kitchen.