Living the college lifestyle definitely has its perks with freedom being at the top of the list. We are on our own and have the power to take care of ourselves. For the most part, this is great, but that is not always the case. When I get sick, I always wish that I’m home all snuggled up in bed with my mom there to give me some TLC. We are no longer in high school, where it is much easier to take a couple sick days to recuperate without getting too behind with our studies. However, we college students cannot afford to miss many classes, let alone fall behind with our continuously growing workloads. Though we might not be in bed recovering, we at least have our mothers’ renowned remedies to try. Here are 5 must-have foods that will help you ward off the sniffles and viruses with cold and flu season just around the corner.
1. Soup
There’s a reason why our mothers always know to give us a bowl of soup after the first sign of sniffles arises. Soups provide the fluids you need to help fight off viruses, while reducing the inflammation that triggers symptoms, which leads to a cold worsening. Researchers believe that a combination of soup ingredients such as the healthy vegetables and meat are what soothes symptoms. Bonus tip: Studies have found that even commercial soups are as effective as soup you make from scratch at home.
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Vitamin C, most commonly found in citrus fruits, is an antioxidant that can reduce cold symptoms by nearly 25 percent. Researchers say that 1 to 8 grams of Vitamin C is all you need. It can easily be found in supplements or from citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, sprouts, papaya, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Keep in mind that with some people, high amounts of vitamin C can cause digestive problems, so cut back on your dose if symptoms do arise.
3. Ginger Ale
Ginger Ale is another one of Dr. Mom’s staples. It will do more than just soothe a scratchy throat and cough; it helps fight the viruses that lead to sickness. Ginger contains chemicals that target rhinoviruses, which are the most common family of cold viruses. In addition, ginger is a natural pain and fever reducer and a mild sedative, meaning it will help you rest while you’re bed bound. So drink up!
4. Honey
Honey has a rep for being a cure-all for everything from burns (immediately putting raw honey on a burn speeds up the healing process) to scrapes (honey’s natural antiseptic properties make it work similarly to hydrogen peroxide). Honey’s thickness makes it coat your throat, which is what makes it a great cold and sore throat reliever. The antioxidants and antimicrobial properties it contains help it to fight off virus infections. Buckwheat honey has the highest antioxidant levels while clover honey has the least.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt contains a bacterium that is discovered to block the replication of the invading viruses that affect your body when you are sick. Look for yogurts that contain the beneficial bacteria, L. reuteri, in the ingredients because not all brands of yogurt contain this particular strain. If you are looking to be health conscious too, opt for Greek and/or low to nonfat yogurt choices.And if you are looking for taste, there are plenty of healthy yogurts with scrumptious flavors to choose from.
There you have it, 5 immunity-boosting foods right at your fingertips that will keep you staying healthy this winter!