What Foods Treat a Cold?

Cold is a common disease that everybody can have and had. When you catch a cold, you feel too tired and uncomfortable to work, study or do anything else. Though taking pills can treat the cold, pills and all the other medicine have more or less side-effects. Thus, we should find a healthier way to treat a cold and the food therapy is the very way.

First, drinking chicken soup: it can restrain the airway inflammation, and remove the cough, nasal obstruction, and sore throat. Chicken contains various amino acids that enhance the immunity of people and some special substance that helps breathe easily.

Second, eat more carrots: the fact shows that carotene prevents and treats colds. You cut carrots into pieces and press a half cup of juice. Then add the juice with ginger juice, sugar or honey and water. Drink it three times per day for two days. In this way, colds can be treated.

Third, eat less salt: eating less salt means eating less sodium, and thus increasing lysozymes in the saliva. Lysozyme protects epithelial cells of buccal and guttural mucosa and secrets more immunoglobulin A and interferon to kill Influenza viruses. Thus, controlling the intake of salt below 5 grams helps treat the cold.

Fourth, drink honey: honey contains many bioactivators that enhance the immunity of the body. Drinking it both in the morning and in the evening can effectively prevents and treats colds and other viroses.

Many nutritionists and experts suggest from the perspective of science of health preserving of Traditional Chinese Medicine people eat more of the following foods when in a cold.

1. Onion
Onion is spicy and prevents colds because it can effectively kill bacteria. Onion is nutrient and stimulates the stomach, intestines and digestive gland. Thus, appetite is increased and so is the discharge of sodium. In this way, the blood pressure is decreased and therefore, helpful for people who suffer from high blood pressure, high blood lipid or cardiac, cerebral and vascular diseases.

2. Pumpkin
Pumpkin can be regarded both as vegetables and staple food because it can not only fill your stomach but also is therapeutic. It contains many vitamins and pectin which can clear away bacteria and other toxic substances.

3. Green bean
It contains various proteins and amino acids which are good to the stomach and spleen. Green beans can activate lymphocytes and produce immune antibodies which harm and depress cancer cells. Besides, green beans have much medicinal value because they contain high quality proteins and unsaturated fatty acids.

4. Soybean sprout
Soybean sprouts are rich in vitamin B2, and thus cures vitamin B2 deficiency. Besides, they contain much vitamin C which helps growth and development and prevents anemia.