Introduction: In this season of frequent temperature changes, the flu runs rampant, and colds often visit us. As the saying goes, "all medicine has some toxicity." Instead of relying on medication to get rid of a cold, we can eat some foods that can effectively prevent colds. Below are ten foods that can prevent colds. Let's take a look together.
1. Onion:
The nutritional components in onions are very rich. Not only are they abundant in nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, folic acid, zinc, selenium, and fiber, but they also contain two special nutrients—quercetin and prostaglandin A. These two special nutrients give onions many health benefits that other foods cannot replace. Moreover, onions have the effect of dispelling wind and cold. The onion bulb and leaves contain an oily volatile substance called propylene sulfide, which has a pungent taste. This substance can resist cold and defend against influenza viruses. The allicin in onions has strong bactericidal properties. Not only that, but onions can also help cells better utilize glucose, while lowering blood sugar and supplying heat energy to brain cells. For diabetic patients, eating onions regularly is very beneficial for controlling the progression of the disease. Onions are the best choice for patients with diabetes and listlessness.
Black Pepper and Onion Roasted Beef
2. Tomato:
Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and have the effects of stopping bleeding, lowering blood pressure, promoting urination, strengthening the stomach to aid digestion, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, clearing heat and detoxifying, and cooling the blood to calm the liver. Tomatoes not only have a protective effect against diseases like cancer, but they are also very effective in preventing colds. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which has powerful antioxidant properties and can eliminate free radicals in the body, preventing diseases like cancer. Lycopene is released only after the cell walls of tomatoes are broken down by cooking, and it has a higher solubility in oil. Therefore, eating stir-fried tomatoes will allow you to absorb more lycopene than eating raw tomatoes. As we all know, supplementing with more vitamin C after catching a cold can help get rid of it. Therefore, we should pay attention to supplementing with vitamin C in our daily lives. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, which can supplement the body's need for it and effectively prevent colds. Eating tomatoes raw supplements vitamin C, while eating them cooked supplements lycopene, both of which are very beneficial to the body!
Tomato and Meatball Soup
3. Almond:
Almonds are divided into two types: sweet and bitter. Almonds produced in southern China belong to the sweet almond (also known as South almond), which has a slightly sweet and delicate taste. They are often used as food and can also be added as an ingredient to cakes, cookies, and dishes. They have the effects of moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, and lubricating the bowels, and have a certain alleviating effect on dry cough without phlegm and chronic cough due to lung deficiency; Almonds produced in northern China belong to the bitter almond (also known as North almond), which has a bitter taste and is mostly used medicinally. They have the effects of moistening the lungs and relieving asthma, and are significantly effective for symptoms such as excessive phlegm, cough, and wheezing caused by colds.
According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, almonds have the effects of promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, moistening the lungs, and calming asthma. They are often used for the health care and treatment of patients with dry lung cough and asthma. Sweet almonds, as a food, can be used as a substitute for almonds. A new research result from American researchers shows that people with normal or slightly high cholesterol levels can replace low-nutrient-density foods in their diet with almonds to lower blood cholesterol and maintain heart health.
Almond, Cream, and Cocoa Cookies
4. Radish:
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that radishes have the functions of aiding digestion, resolving phlegm and calming asthma, clearing heat and regulating qi, and reducing swelling and dispersing stasis. When most children catch a cold, they experience symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections such as a dry and sore throat, repeated coughing, and difficulty expectorating phlegm. Eating more crisp, delicious, and tender radishes not only whets the appetite and aids digestion but also nourishes the throat, resolves phlegm, and regulates qi, effectively preventing colds. In addition, radishes have high nutritional value, rich in carbohydrates and various vitamins, among which the vitamin C content is 8-10 times higher than that of pears. Radishes do not contain oxalic acid, so they not only do not bind with calcium in food but are also more beneficial for calcium absorption. Recent studies have shown that the fiber lignin contained in radishes has a strong anti-cancer effect, and eating it raw is even better. Children are afraid of spiciness, so it is best to choose radishes that are green, have high water content, are lightly spicy, and are sweet.
Sour and Spicy Crisp Radish
5. Pineapple:
Fever, cough, and sore throat are the most obvious symptoms of a cold. Besides lying in bed quietly to rest, you might want to drink a glass of fresh pineapple juice. It has a cooling effect and can effectively lower the bronchi. Medical research has shown that since ancient times, humans have often relied on the bromelain contained in pineapples to relieve symptoms of sore throat and cough. This is because pineapples contain almost all the vitamins the human body needs, 16 kinds of natural minerals, and can effectively help with digestion and absorption. The bromelain in pineapples not only helps cold patients relieve sore throat and cough symptoms but can also effectively break down proteins in food, increase gastrointestinal motility, and enhance the body's immunity.
Curry Pineapple Pork