There is currently no drug or product on the market that has been proven to cure the common cold. The common cold has been around for centuries, however, and people in different cultures have looked to certain foods to help them feel better, or prevent the disease from occurring in the future. While recent scientific studies have disproved some of the myths surrounding some foods, other studies have shown certain foods to really have some health benefits. Below is a list of some common foods that can help to prevent or lessen the symptoms of the common cold.
Try broccoli, which packs a healthy dose of disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamins A and C. It’s also filled with nutrients like calcium, potassium, and fiber. To get the most out of this food, eat it raw. Try pairing florets with a small amount of ranch dressing. If you don’t like raw broccoli, steaming it is the next best thing. Toss one cup of steamed broccoli with a tablespoon of heart-healthy olive oil and a bit of fresh thyme (known for its immune boosting qualities) for a healthy and tasty side dish with dinner. For help with choosing a typr of olive oil, click here.
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If you absolutely can’t stand broccoli, try tomatoes, which are an excellent source of lycopene. Lycopene is what makes fruit and vegetables like tomatoes look red, and it may be useful in battling prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. It isn’t even necessary to eat raw tomatoes to get lycopene; you can absorb the chemical from eating cooked tomatoes (like the kind found in spaghetti sauce and ketchup). The problem is that research has shown that in order to decrease the risk of prostate cancer by over 30 percent you must eat ten daily servings of food containing lycopene. No research has been done to show what the benefits are if you consume less than ten servings a day.
Citrus fruit, such as lemons and oranges, contains Vitamin C which some research has shown can lessen the length of time that one suffers from the symptoms of a cold. The trick is to start eating as much of this food as you can as soon as you start to feel the symptoms of a cold. If you don’t like citrus, also try kiwis (and kiwi contains 240% of your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C) or strawberries.
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For other foods with health benefits, read this.
Winter is coming and we need to keep the cold away, here are some great ideas
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