Foods To Treat Cough And Cold: A cozy room, warm blankets, a cup of hot chocolate and pleasant music is the ideal way to enjoy this season. Winter is a beautiful season unless you suffer from some cough and cold.
Cough and cold can be frustrating and debilitating, especially if you cannot control the bouts of cough. It is normal to clear your throat when you feel something stuck in your throat, but if it is severe, then you might suffer from a cough later. During winter, you are more prone to infections because of weakened immunity.
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, In my opinion, Tulsi is the super herb in Ayurveda. When you catch a cough or a cold, guess who might come to the rescue? That’s right, Tulsi! This herb may act like the superhero of the Ayurvedic universe, fighting off germs and boosting your immune system like a champ.
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold: What is the cough?
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Cough is a body’s natural response that clears your throat from mucus or foreign irritants, and it might be caused when some food blocks your airways. Cough can be acute or chronic. Acute cough lasts for less than three weeks, and chronic cough lasts over eight weeks.
I might have some good news for cold sore warriors! Aloe Vera is here to save the day. This magical plant may have some serious healing powers. When it comes to cold sores, aloe might be your trusty friend.
What are the causes of a cough?
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, There are several reasons for cough, and it can be temporary or permanent. Some common causes of cough are as follows:
Smoking
Asthma and allergies
Foreign particles or irritants
Drug-induced cough–Lisinopril and Enalapril
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Based on my observation, neem leaf might be a natural superhero for cold and fever! It might help boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and may have antibacterial and antiviral powers. Brew some neem leaf tea or try a neem leaf supplement and ensure good health.
What are the types of cough?
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, There are many types of cough, depending on their underlying cause, but commonly we divide it –
Dry cough – A dry cough doesn’t bring up mucus, and it can cause because of common cold and flu.
Wet or productive cough – There is a productive cough that helps to push mucus out of your respiratory system. Some acute or chronic infections can cause a wet cough.
Home remedies for Cough and Cold
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, If you have a wet cough, you don’t want to suppress it as the infected mucus should drain out, but you want to ease your dry cough because it is exhausting. Here, we have enlisted some common foods, herbs or home remedies that will reduce the dry and wet cough –
1. Ginger
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Ginger is a popular home remedy for cough and acts as an anti-inflammatory. A cup of hot ginger tea can ease your annoying cough and sore throat.
Ginger contains certain compounds that dilate the blood vessels of the lungs and relax smooth muscles that lead to the opening of the airways. You can slice up fresh ginger or freshly grated ginger in hot tea for cough relief.
2. Garlic
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Garlic can help you fight cold and flu. It ensures faster recovery as well as has other health benefits. It is great if you can have raw garlic or you can also add them to your chicken soup. Garlic is rich in compounds that boost immunity, it has medicinal properties and can be a part of your daily diet.
3. Raw honey
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Raw honey is versatile in its healing properties, particularly in respiratory complaints. It possesses antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the intensity and duration of a cough.
For better results, make a tea with two tablespoons of honey and two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice with adequate water. Lemon will act as an antioxidant and help to boost your energy.
4. Turmeric
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Turmeric milk is one of the famous home remedies in India for almost every sickness. It is a potent home remedy for sore throat and cough. Turmeric is beneficial because of the presence of Curcumin in it. Curcumin gives a yellow color to turmeric and provides anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric boosts your immune system and active antibody reaction against infection. Add some black pepper in the turmeric for fast relief.
5. Lemon
Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Lemon helps to boost immunity and is also essential for DNA repair and serotonin production. A freshly squeezed lemon with warm water or tea can help you soothe your sore throat and cough. You may also have oranges during the flu. It has high vitamin C and helps you get well faster.
6. Pineapple
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, These would be a surprise for you, but pineapple is a potent cough aid. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that has anti-inflammatory and mucolytic (break down of mucus) properties. These two characteristics of bromelain make pineapple an excellent food to help relieve a cough.
7. Pomegranate juice
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Fresh pomegranate juice is full of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains flavonoid antioxidants, which are helpful to combat viruses and decrease the length of a cold by as much as 40%. You can drink fresh pomegranate juice daily or you can add them in smoothies or herbal tea.
8. Hot tea
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Hot tea (green, black, and regular) is best when you have a cough or cold. Antioxidant-rich tea soothes your sore throat and liquefies mucus from your congested nose that helps to clear the nasal passage. You may also have Chamomile tea, it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile tea promotes sleep and helps to protect your immunity.
9. Pumpkin seeds
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, a mineral that your body requires to boost the function of white blood cells. White blood cells are important to fight off pathogens like the flu virus. You may consume these by the handful or even sprinkle them on salads to add some nice crunch.
10. Yoghurt
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, are your best bet to fight symptoms of the common cold and flu. People who consume yoghurt are overall healthier. They have the ability to recover faster than those who lack probiotics in their body. They even experience less severe flu symptoms.
11. Broth or soup
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Yes, your granny was right! A chicken soup or broth is an excellent food to eat when you have flu. The steam from soup or broth speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose to relieve congestion. A healthy soup also helps reduce inflammation. Sipping hot soup enhances your immune system that guards against bacteria and viruses. If you don’t eat chicken, then opt for vegetable soup flavored with ginger, garlic, turmeric, and black pepper.
12. Vegetable juice
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Antioxidants are present in vegetables and help boost your immunity. Vegetable juice can speed up your recovery from illnesses like the flu. When you are down with flu symptoms, you will likely lose taste and not feel like eating solid foods. A glass of vegetable juice is the perfect solution for you. You may include vegetables like carrots, kale which is known for their antiviral properties and more.
13. Turkey Sandwich
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Cough and cold take a toll on your immune system and make you weak. Eating protein-rich food items will help you spring back to normal health. You may lose your appetite while being sick, but getting the right amount of nutrition is important. A turkey sandwich will provide you with the essential protein building blocks that your immune system needs to fight the flu.
14. Traditional Chicken Stew
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Chicken stew is comfort food that you can rely on when you have a sore throat, a bad cough or flu. The ingredients that go into making chicken stew work effectively to provide relief when you have a cough and cold. Vegetables, chicken broth, salt, pepper, onion and garlic are the basic ingredients that go into making chicken stew.
Tips
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Clean your nose blowing your nose gently (with a clean cloth) as well as using a saltwater rinse can effectively remove the phlegm building up in your nasal passages
Gargle Use a warm gargle to clear your throat, this helps with reducing mucus as well as providing some relief (drinking warm beverages can also ease your throat pain).
Diet Follow the above dietary recommendations to boost your overall health and support your immune system, this gives you the strength to get back to a healthy state quicker.
Steam Using steam inhalation or even simply taking a steamy shower can help you to relax, open up your nasal passages and feel much better.
Foods To Treat Cough And Cold, Suffering from a cough or cold these days is terrifying, but a healthy diet can be a saviour for you. Healthy foods can increase your immune system and keep you healthy.
Also Read:
The Best 10 Benefits Of Kiwi Fruit
The Best 11 Home Remedies For Cold And Flu In Babies And Kids
The Amazing Benefits Of Fish Oil
Period Remedies: The perfect Home Remedies For Period Pain
The Best 12 Calcium-Rich Foods
Healthy Lifestyle Habits: The 20 Healthy Tips For A Healthy Life
Fall Dresses: The 8 Best Fall Trends Dresses
15 Easy And Beneficial Dinners For Weight Loss You’ll Want To Make Forever
