SOME TIPS FOR FIGHTING COLDS AND FLU

The dreaded colds and flu can make us sick and miserable. Here are some foods that have been proven scientifically to be beneficial in fighting both colds and flu.

• Chicken Soup is known to help clear clogged airways, and the broth is nourishing to the body.
• Hot and Spicy Foods, such as garlic, onion, hot peppers and hot sauces, help break up congestion.
• Garlic, mentioned above, seems to especially reduce cold and flu symptoms. Use garlic liberally when cooking.
• Cirtus Fruits increase one's intake of vitamin C, a known fighter of colds and flu. Drink juice, add the fruit to salads or cottage cheese or simply eat the whole fruit. Potatoes, Bell Peppers (especially red ones), Strawberries and Pineapple are also good sources of vitamin C and should be part of your cold and flu fighting arsenal.
• Ginger, this spice is also known as a good cold and flu fighter. Add ginger to soups, stews, etc. You can also make yourself a cup of ginger tea as it is a good cold and flu fighter.
• Fluids are important at all times but especially so when fighting colds and flu. It is very important to stay hydrated, especially when running a fever. But your choice of beverages can make a difference. It is best to cut back on coffee and sodas and to increase one's intake of water and pure fruit juices. Hot tea and hot water with lemon added are also good choices.

I'm sure this is an incomplete list, but it is a good starting point. During cold or flu season, use some of these tips to keep yourself healthy, If you do get a cold or flu, this list can be helpful in helping your misery and to recover faster.

file photo

SOUP FOR A COLD?

Studies show that your mother was right!  Eating soup can reduce inflammation and help clear away mucous therefore easing the symptoms of colds and upper respiratory tract infections.  And, yes, when you don't feel well, you may not want to make homemade soup.  That is okay, too.  As we the public have become more attuned to how the foods we eat affect our bodies, the food manufacturers have come up with ways to keep our business!  After all, if they don't have us the consumers, they have no business!  You can now find soups with lower fat, lower sodium, organic, etc on the grocer's shelves.  Just be sure to read the labels!  And did you know you can also find soup in the freezer section?  The plus for frozen soups is that they usually contain much less sodium since they don't need it as a preservative.  Next time you are grocery shopping, check out the soups and purchase one or two to have on hand when needed. Broth based soups are better for this than rich creamy soups.

File Photo

CITRUS FRUITS HELP TO RESIST COLDS

Scientists say eating 1/2 cup of citrus fruit a day could cut ones risk of getting a cold, especially summer colds, by 85%. The reason? Citrus fruits contain bioflavonoids that strengthen sinus tissues keeping germs from penetrating. Most cold germs enter our bodies through our noses followed by the eyes.

GOT THE SNIFFLES?

Purple cabbage may be helpful in stalling the growth of invading germs to help us stay cold-free. Antiviral compounds in purple cabbage may be helpful in stopping sniffles and colds. Purple cabbage has several benefits and should be a part of the diet. I did not see where it is better to eat purple cabbage cooked or raw, I did see that 1 cup of raw purple cabbage in vitamin C contains 56% of the daily value.

file photo

SOUP DOES MORE THAN WARM YOU UP

 I love soup any day of the year. In fact, I could probably live quite happily on soup alone. But one of my favorite times to enjoy a steaming bowl of soup is on a cold, dreary day.  There's nothing like a bowl of soup to warm you from the inside out. But soup is more than just a tasty way to warm up. Soup can actually ease cold symptoms such as congestion and a runny nose. Studies have proven that a hot bowl of soup can reduce inflammation and clear away mucous to ease the symptoms of upper respiratory infections. There's a reason soup is sometimes called "Grandma's penicillin".

ckuoart

GOOD IDEA FOR COLDS AND FLU

What a great idea anytime, but especially during cold and flu season. This will help keep from spreading germs everywhere. Such a simple solution to keep others safe from our germs. Attach an empty tissue box to a full box. After using a tissue, simply discard it in the empty box.

HOW STAR ANISE BOOSTS IMMUNITY

Spices have healing properties that we often don't realize. Since we are in cold and flu season, I thought it would be good to mention star anise. Do you ever take Tamiflu when ill? You probably didn't realize that two of the compounds in star anise are used to make Tamiflu. Those compounds are shikimic acid and quercetin. Imagine that, properties in this spice are used in making medicine to combat the flu! According to the Journal of Medical Virology, simply boosting your intake of these antioxidants can significantly increase your body's production of immune cells.

file photo

COULD EATING BREAKFAST HELP PREVENT COLDS AND FLU?

We are all familiar with the fact that we need to eat breakfast and I like to add a healthy breakfast.

The Cleveland Clinic gives us another reason to do so.  According to the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Editors, studies done at Cardiff University in Wales, show that those who eat breakfast  are less likely to suffer from colds, etc.  Perhaps this coming cold and flu season it would be helpful to eat a healthy breakfast everyday.

file photo

DR. TRAVIS STORK ON FIGHTING COLDS AND FLU

This is a repeat post. I have no idea where Dr Stork is today. I just thought it would be good to repost since we are into cold and flu season.

When Travis Stork, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and cohost of the TV show The Doctors, was ask how he kicks colds and flu he replied, "When I get a scratchy throat, I gargle with warm salt water and eat more fruits and veggies........." He went on to say, "I also rinse my nasal passages with saline mist when I feel stuffy, once in the morning and once before bed. It's like washing away the cold virus." Sounds like some pretty good advice for us. Ever notice how many times the experts talk about eating fruits and vegetables?

T

EAT GARLIC DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON

As we head toward Fall with its cold and flu season you may want to up your intake of garlic. Yes, garlic - that smelly garlic is very good for you!  One of garlic's important health benefits is that it helps the immune system by increasing the production of white-blood cells.  White-blood cells are disease fighters and we all want a good healthy supply of them.  The good thing about garlic is that it can be used in so many foods such as soups, sauces, marinades, etc.

ADVICE FOR COLD SEASON

I recently saw a quote from Dr. Oz that I thought would be appropriate as we head into cold season.

"Feel a cold coming on?  I have a big bowl of chicken soup.  Research suggests that soup is anti-inflammatory, and getting in those calories early is important.  You need energy to fight off the virus."

file photo

VITAMIN C F00DS FOR FIGHTING OFF COLDS AND FLU

Cold and flu season is upon us. Remember that vitamin-C is a big help in fighting off colds and flu.  Here is a list of foods that are high in vitamin-C so be sure to include them regularly in your diet! It is always a good idea to build up our immune systems to help fight off anything that may come our way.

• Hot Chili Peppers: 1/2 cup contains: 182mg vitamin C, or 303% DV
• Bell Peppers: 10 strips contain: 95.4mg vitamin C, or 159% DV
• Guava 1/2 cup contains: 188mg vitamin C, or 314% DV
• Kale 1 cup, chopped, contains: 80.4mg vitamin C, or 134%
• 1 cup pineapple chunks contains: over 131% of daily needs

Other foods high in vitamin-C that should be included in your diet are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe and papaya.

DR JULIAN WHITAKER ON CHAMOMILE TEA

NOTE: This is an old post from 7 years ago. The number of years in the post have been updated.

I have followed Dr. Julian Whitaker for over 30 years.  I credit many of the things I learned from him for my life and health today.  Over twenty-five years ago I was spending almost as much time in the hospital as out.  I had doctors, specialists from all over the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex, telling me and my family there was really nothing else to be done for me.  I was in the emergency room so much (usually middle of the night) they finally started keeping my chart at the desk with my doctor's permission to go ahead and start the IV pain meds along with other meds first then call the doctor.  I decided, with my doctor's permission, to research how I could improve my health.  Some of my research led me to Dr. Whitaker.  I signed up for his newsletter, etc and started trying many of his suggestions.  I also followed through on other research. My doctors were amazed as they watched my health improve and they told me not to quit doing whatever I was doing.  Over the last 25+ years my health has improved to where I feel about as good now as I ever have. So when I got this information from Dr. Whitaker, being a diabetic myself, I thought I would pass it along.  I love tea and drink it often although chamomile is not my favorite.  I do intend to add it to my tea canisters and thought you might want to add it, too, after reading the following:

"Chamomile tea is well known for its calming effects. This tasty drink also boasts many other health benefits: It eases menstrual cramps, improves anxiety and sleep and treats the common cold. New research suggests that chamomile tea may also help people with diabetes.

Japanese scientists gave a group of rats with diabetes a chamomile extract every day for three weeks, while a control group received a placebo. Researchers found that the rats consuming chamomile had significantly lower blood glucose levels.

Studies show that chamomile can also suppress enzymes that are linked to an increased risk of complications commonly associated with diabetes, such as vision, kidney and nerve damage.

Of course, animal studies are a far cry from human clinical trials. But adding a cup or two of chamomile tea to your daily routine isn’t a bad idea - whether you have diabetes or not. Try drinking it with or right after meals, as chamomile has also been shown to aid in digestion and prevent heartburn and flatulence."

Yours in good health,
Dr. Whitaker"

WOMEN AND WALKING

Almost all of us can walk.  If you can walk, you need to be doing so.  I am a big advocate of taking a far from the door parking space at the mall, carrying in groceries, etc, one bag at a time, taking the stairs when possible, etc.  These simple things keep you moving and give you much needed exercise.  But I am talking about real walking here, at least 20 to 30 minutes at a time.  Consider these facts:

• According to a Harvard Medical School study, walking just three hours a week cuts the risk of heart attack and stroke in women ages 40 to 65 by 40%.
• Women who walk 40 to 45 minutes 5 times a week are sick with colds or flu only half as often as sedentary women.  This information comes from Appalachian State University.

Just those two statistics alone should be enough to get one moving!  And there are many more benefits to walking.

The good thing about walking is that it is available to almost everyone.  No expensive equipment, a gym is not required, etc.  According to Kathy Smith, a fitness instructor, "Walking is an equal opportunity exercise.  There aren't any biases against uncoordinated people, and everyone knows how to do it.  It's a 'no excuses' workout because you don't need equipment or a gym."

The statistics in this post are on women.  However, walking is a good exercise for men, women, and children!

file photo

TREATING THE COMMON COLD

I think most of us know we have a problem with the overuse of antibiotics.  It seems to make us feel better to have the doctor write us a prescription when we feel bad.  However, keep in mind that antibiotics are not needed or helpful for the common cold.  The experts recommend the following for the common cold:

• Try over-the-counter analgesics (think aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen) to relieve aches and fever.
• Try over-the-counter antitussives to ease coughing.
• Try over-the-counter expectorants to help thin mucus (drinking plenty of water helps, too).
• Try over-the-counter decongestants to shrink nasal passages and reduce congestion.

If your cold appears to be something more serious or the above things do not help after a few days, contact your physican.  You may have a different problem.

DR. TRAVIS STORK ON PREVENTING COLDS AND FLU

Dr. Travis Stork is not only a popular TV personality from the show The Doctors, he is also an ER physician.  He says one of the best ways to prevent colds and flu is to avoid touching your nose, eyes, or mouth before washing your hands.  This is a quote from Dr. Travis.

"If I shake hands with people, I don't rub my eyes until I've washed my hands.  I think it's one of the reasons I rarely get sick.  I haven't had the flu since I was a kid."

An important reminder to us all as we head into cold and flu season! Personally, I would add this is very important to help prevent the spread of covid.

file photo

SPICE RACK REMEDIES

 Have you ever considered your spice rack as a medicine cabinet? As strange as that may sound, it is a good idea. To enlighten us all, I have decided to do a 'spice rack remedies' post from time to time. If you have taking medications, as many do, try using more spices to help with your health situations. Below are the first two I will post.

• Ginger - Ginger relieves inflammation associated with arthritic conditions, soothes nausea and indigestion, and helps fight colds and flu. I can personally say I have used ginger for years and it has helped my inflammation and stomach issues. According to Andrew Weil, MD, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a leading proponent of Natural Healing, ginger can reduce joint stiffness and swelling as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One possible risk is that excessive use by pregnant women may cause miscarriage and/or heartburn.
• Caraway - Aids digestion. Also acts as an antispasmodic which can be helpful in treating menstrual cramps. No known risks.

These are just brief points on these spices. You can look them up online for more details if you are interested in a particular one.

file photo