How to ward off the winter cold

As a plant based vegan, I rarely get sick. Honestly. Whilst family members and friends can be riddled with colds, ear infections or even gastro the bugs seem to by pass me, which makes me think, there is something to be said about ‘let food be thy medicine’. Although I am not indestructible from time to time, my immune system lets me down and I can be prone to a cold or two, after all I am human too!

Instead of making a beeline to the local pharmacy, I let nature heal me, as I believe this is my best defence when it comes to fighting the common cold.

Top 5 natural cold remedies

Ginger and Lemon Tea

One of the simplest remedies you can conjure up using ingredients purchased from your local farmers market, organic grocer or supermarket. All you need is a mug of boiling water, fresh ginger (around 1 inch) minced and the juice of 1 lemon + grated lemon rind. This is a spicy sour warming beverage made in around 2 minutes and the perfect tonic to help ward off those evil colds.

Highland Herbs Tasmania – Cold and Flu tea

This natural remedy from across the seas has us feeling ‘normal’ if we ever feel a cold coming on. Ingredients include: peppermint, yarrow, elderflower, thyme, hyssop, Echinacea, fennel and ginger. Why are these ingredients so powerful? The blend of herbs assist the bodies own immune system and defences as well as giving symptomatic relief.

Golden Turmeric drink

Fast becoming a popular remedy for just about everything, turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, which is just what you need when you feel a cold coming on. Building up the strength from within, this immune building tea also helps relieve nausea, motion sickness and digestive issues.

Water

Keeping hydrated is one of the best defences when it comes to fighting the common cold or flu. Helping to keep the mucous membranes moist including eyes and skin, drinking water helps stop the body from ‘drying’ out which can be a true sign that you are ill.

Vegetable soup

Bursting, with cold fighting properties, vegetable bases soups are nutritionally dense packed with key nutrients including vitamins and minerals. Homemade is certainly the way to go and despite feeling a little under the weather, a soup can be made in one pot with all the ingredients thrown in and allowed to simmer away until ready to blend and eat. Ingredients such as leeks, garlic, turmeric, celery, carrots, kale and lentils are the perfect cold fighting ingredients.

Sore throat, runny nose?

Next time you wake with a sore throat, runny nose and congestion followed by a cough try and avoid the pharmacy counter which will see you take a potion of pills and elixirs that although my help immediately will more than likely mask the illness as opposed to help it. Nature is our best defence when it comes to fighting the common cold and flu.

Stay well this winter and don’t forget to eat your vegetables.