This winter, people are particularly worried about catching colds. A dry throat, a stuffy nose... even mild cold symptoms can cause worry and fear for oneself and those around. In fact, when a cold first begins, the virus is at its weakest. As long as you find the right method, you can quickly drive away the cold and restore your health.
Recently, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine announced a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for preventing H1N1 influenza, which includes ingredients such as North almond, raw Job's tears, and mulberry leaf. Do almonds really have the effect of preventing the flu? Professor Yang Li from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences stated that the efficacy of almonds in improving immunity and preventing the flu is not yet certain. However, when a cold first strikes, eating some almonds can greatly alleviate cold symptoms and quickly repair bodily damage.
According to ancient Chinese medical texts, almonds have the function of moistening the lungs, stopping coughs, and resolving phlegm. Formulations such as Xing San Powder, Xing Huashi Decoction, Lingyang Qingfei Pills, and modern cold and fever relief granules all contain almonds. Professor Yang Li also pointed out that sweet almonds are sweet in taste and neutral in nature, with the effects of moistening lung dryness, stopping coughs and calming wheezing, and lubricating the intestines to promote bowel movements. In particular, the effects of almonds in dispelling wind, lowering qi, moistening dryness, and reversing counterflow can very effectively relieve symptoms that appear at the onset of a cold, such as a dry throat, sore throat, and dizziness. For winter colds, you can eat a handful of almonds. But it's best to drink a warm and cozy almond milk, which can achieve the best effect of expelling wind and clearing heat.
Almonds are rich and balanced in nutrition. A handful of almonds (about 20-25 pieces, weighing about 30 grams) contains 160-170 calories, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of carbohydrates, and 14 grams of fat (of which 9 grams are monounsaturated fat, 4 grams are polyunsaturated fat, and 1 gram is saturated fat). Almonds also contain fiber and various vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and more. Almonds have the highest vitamin E content among common nuts, with about 10 milligrams per handful.