Help stave off the 'sickness for all seasons'
Categories: Womens Health, HealthWatch, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
When winter is in full force, you almost expect to catch a few colds. But, with August temperatures reaching the upper 80s on an almost daily basis, a sniffle in the summer seems altogether unusual -- not to mention unfair. Nevertheless, as evidenced by a pretty nasty three-day man cold I got hammered with back in early July, it's abundantly clear colds -- though more prevalent during colder months -- are a sickness for all seasons. Fortunately, there are some dietary steps we can take target-harden ourselves against illness. Here are just a few I felt were worth mentioning.
Yogurt - A study showed that people who ate three-quarters of a cup of yogurt daily for a year had 25 percent fewer colds than those who didn't. Because it contains probiotics, yogurt helps strengthen the immune system.
Red Bell Pepper - With 130mg more vitamin C than an orange, red bell pepper is a great source for this cold-fighting nutrient.
Eggs - High in B vitamins, zinc, and amino acids, eggs boost white blood cell count and antibodies, which the body needs to stave off illness.
Ginger - Many cultures consider ginger to be a panacea for colds. Researchers say that fresh ginger may help fight viruses by helping the body sweat out toxins.
Garlic - Immune-strengthening, sulfur-based compounds contained in garlic may help the body stay free of infection.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Natalie 8-15-2008 @ 1:14PM
I eat all of these and I never get sick. Coincidence??? ;)
Reply
marcie0305 8-15-2008 @ 10:49PM
Second the yogurt recommendation but even better is kefir - availability has become much better since I wrote this (I find it at Kroger, for example):
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/2007/08/spending-money-on-activia-or-danactive.html
~it has way more probiotic strains than regular yogurt!
Good stuff, thanks!
~Marcie
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