Sitting at home or traveling around during the winter months, the threat of catching a bug because of the cold temperatures is always a concern, even if we didn't have the looming threat of a new COVID variant.
While the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from COVID, boosting and protecting your immune system against other seasonal viruses, colds, and flus is always a good idea.
By now, lemon, ginger, and honey are tried and true ingredients we all rush to when we aren't feeling well but here are 5 more that are other powerful agents for supercharging your body's natural defenses you may not have considered. Try adding these to your diet this season and integrating them into your everyday lifestyle.
LIME
Use it in:
Salad dressings, to flavor water, spritzed over fish or meat, mixed in with greek yogurt, squeezed over pomegranate, squeezed over roasted carrots.
What it does for you:
Helps to reinforce your immune system and reduce inflammation. Can help speed up healing process.
Vitamins:
vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, calcium, vitamin B6, thiamine, potassium, and are slightly higher than lemons in vitamin E, vitamin B3, vitamin B5
TURMERIC
Use it in:
Nut milks, couscous, for mixing with olive oil used to roast vegetables, fish, or meat, mixed in with greek yogurt for a savory topping. Drop into broth.
What it does for you:
Powerful antioxidant and reduces inflammation. Can improve heart health and prevent against Alzheimer's and cancer. Has been shown to help with symptoms of depression, arthritis, and diabetes.
Vitamins:
vitamin C, vitamin B6, Manganese, and Iron. Active ingredient: Curcumin.
HONEY
Use it in:
Oatmeal or morning porridge, in yogurt, to roast tomatoes, with chai, with fresh apple slices as a snack, to roast squash, in coffee.
What it does for you:
Used to heal wounds, calm sore throats, relax the body. Has bacterial and anti-fungal properties, full of anti-oxidants, help with allergies. Helps with inflammation.
Vitamins:
Niacin, riboflavin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and vitamin C (Ascorbic acid).
CAYENNE PEPPER
Use it in:
Broth, pasta sauce, tea, in couscous, in salad dressing, in soup, in noodle dishes, can even be tried in chai.
What it does for you:
Moderately spicy, it actually helps with digestion and protects the stomach against potential infections. It can help to reduce high blood pressure and may reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Helps to relieve pain, assist in skin issues, and is a powerful antioxident.
Vitamins:
Vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and has more vitamin A, vitamin E , Fiber, Iron, Manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin K, Folate, Manganese, Potassium, Copper than chili pepper.
PROPOLIS (BEE POLLEN)
Use it in:
Drop into tea, mix into yogurt, sprinkle over avocado toast, with a smoothie, over pancakes or french toast.
What it does for you:
Helps with pre-menstral (PMS), and menopausal symptoms. Decreases inflammation, improves immunity, speeds up healing. Good for sore throat.
Vitamins:
Vitamin B, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C. Biotin, rutin, pantothenic, nicotinic, inositol, and folic acids.
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