Flu Busters!

Tis the season....to get sick.
Here are my top five household remedies to help you get through the next few months.....

1. Garlic: Stock up on garlic’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant properties. It is stocked with nutrients (especially vitamin B6, C, and manganese) and highly beneficial sulfur-containing compounds such as allicin - which are also found in onions and other similar-looking plants. In addition to being an important food that fights those nasty bugs, studies also show it to enhance immune function. .
2. Lemons:  Not only does this citrus fruit give you a good dose of Vitamin C, the vitamin of the season, but it also has antimicrobial effects to help your body get rid of foreign invaders. As with so many “healthy” foods, lemons (and it’s green relative, the lime) have antioxidants to help protect your cells so that they are stronger and more apt to defend. Add lemons (and garlic) to dressings, sauces, tea, and water.
3. Honey: You may have heard that you should be decreasing your sugar intake when you’re sick. It is true: sugar can impede our immune response. But honey is different! You need to get RAW or unpasteurized honey as it contains propolis, a natural antimicrobial (it will attack everything from viruses, bacteria, and fungus).  And the soothing properties? Honey is also anti-inflammatory, which is why you’ll find it in a lot of natural cough and throat syrups and lozenges too. Use it with your hot lemon water, add it to herbal tea, or coat your garlic with it! Remember not to give honey to gives 1 and under and I still stick by an older blog post on my homemade onion and honey cough syrup! http://forhealthyroots.blogspot.com/2011/01/cough-syrup.html  and here is the research on honey's anti-spasmodic properties! http://forhealthyroots.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-on-honey.html  
4. Ginger: It can be added to smoothies, made into tea, add it to stir-fries, and pile it in soups! From a Western-medical standpoint, it’s properties are anti-nausea, digestive, and cardiovascular benefits.  From a Chinese Medical perspective, fresh ginger root is a warming food that stimulates sweating.  Ginger can warm you up from the inside out, and prevent this invasion. You can make your own ginger (simply grate some into a mug) with lemon and honey, and get three powerful foods in one!
5. Green Tea:  Green tea protects our cells with it’s high anti-oxidant value, boosts the immune system with it’s catechin content, and will warm you up when you have the chills. Research shows that it will reduce the severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms. If you don’t want to drink it, I still have good news. An interesting study recently found that gargling with green tea tends to help prevent flus. Note: green tea does contain caffeine, but in amounts much less than coffee.