Add these natural foods to your shopping list for a speedy recovery
No matter what you do to fight off the flu, you’ll get at least a mild sniffle at some point. But fear not, with some natural foods, you can bounce back perfectly!
When you’re sick, your body needs more calories to function normally. That’s because it has to work harder than normal to fight infection, especially when it’s also battling a higher body temperature from a fever. To do this effectively, you will need to make wise choices with the right natural foods to reach a speedy recovery as well as take off some of the discomfort that accompanies it.
Although we are here to discuss which natural foods to eat, it’s rather worth mentioning what not to eat! While you’re eating to reduce your symptoms, remember that certain foods can make you feel worse and drain your body of the energy it needs to heal itself.
Things to avoid include alcohol, sugary fare like ice cream and cookies, and high-fat foods like burgers and fries. So let us focus on your new shopping list to boost your recovery.
Read more: Skincare Tips for Glowing Skin During Winter
Coughing
Swallowing two teaspoons of honey has been shown to keep coughs at bay in those with upper respiratory infections. If you can’t imagine eating the stuff right from the jar, try mixing it into your oatmeal, or adding it to hot tea to soothe your throat and reduce your cough.
Headaches
Not only bananas are a potent source of the fat-burning nutrient, choline, but they’re also rich in potassium, a nutrient that fends off bloat. The yellow fruit also has a lot going for it when it comes to fighting off illnesses. The main reason is they’re high in magnesium, an electrolyte that helps fight pain.
Sinus Inflammation and Thinning Mucus
When you feel like your body is becoming overrun with phlegm. Turn to natural foods like pineapple, which contains the compound bromelain. According to recent studies, bromelain has been shown to thin mucus associated with conditions like sinusitis. Top your morning oatmeal with pineapple or incorporate it into your favorite smoothie recipe to stay hydrated. While many people joke about how spicy food clears out their sinuses, hot chili peppers legitimately get the job done. And that’s because they have what’s known as a mucokinetic effect which makes mucus thinner and reduces congestion. Chili peppers also contain a spicy compound called capsaicin that irritates mucous membranes and tear ducts, encouraging them to make more fluid, which helps to thin mucus.
Read more: Why Eating Apple Can Improve Your Health
Sleep Problems and Insomnia
If you’re feeling dizzy or having difficulty falling asleep, a cup of jasmine rice can be your savior. Not only is rice an ideal food to keep stomach upset at bay, but the carbohydrates in the rice spur the body to produce tryptophan, the amino acid that causes sleepiness.
Reduce Aches and Pains
In general, hot tea has the power to soothe aching throats. But ginger tea specifically can soothe the muscle aches commonly associated with illnesses like flu and cold. How does it work? Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols that work to ease that overall body ache that you can’t get rid of when you’re sick.
Energy Boost
When you’re sick, doing the slightest task seems like too much work. Thankfully, eating lentils can help fight off the feelings of fatigue. Rich in protein and iron, they offer long-lasting energy and even help to boost immunity so you can fight off Potential viruses in the future.
Read more: 6 Steps to Improve Your Mental Well-being
Restore White Blood Cells
When you have a cold, the flu, or any other illness for that matter, the white blood cells in your immune system go on the defense, you need to rebuild those immune cells so they’re able to keep up the fight until you’ve fully recovered. How do you do that? Eat foods like carrots and sweet potatoes, packed with immunity-boosting nutrients like vitamins A and C.
Restore Electrolytes
When you’ve got the stomach flu, replacing lost electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium is an important step in your recovery. While you can drink a sports drink to replenish these nutrients, coconut water is a better natural sugar/chemicals-free alternative.
Fight and Reduce Influenza
Ginseng is a popular ingredient in energizing drinks and cold remedy medications. It could shorten illnesses with continued consumption. You can easily make ginseng drinks and soup at home. You can find ginseng at Asian grocery stores in dried and powdered form. Add ginseng to your honey tea and pop a root in your broth as you simmer soup. It will help re-energize your body and reduce the duration and severity of your sickness. Moreover, wards off influenza and helps prevent future flu.
In general, remember to eat diverse natural foods to help your body heal faster and prevent disease.
