Hello, friends! Tis the season to be SICK! I have a yucky cold and it caught me quite by surprise because I seldom get sick. However, I know how to utilize my favorite natural and healthy cold remedies, some I’ve mentioned in past posts, to minimize my symptoms and support my body while it’s healing. Transfer Factor, Oscillococcinum, Immu-Max, Mucolyxir, XClear, Sambucol, I discussed all these in my previous post, “HEALING cold remedies!”, so refer to that for information on my very critical favorites for cold symptom and immune support.  I thought today I would give you my  home cold remedies list so when the yuck monster strikes at your house you will have these go-to’s ready to go.

 

1. Chicken soup/broth- Many studies have shown that chicken soup or chicken broth are very effective at minimizing cold symptoms and can even shorten the duration of a cold. The first thing I do when I start sneezing is to make a yummy pot of chicken soup. It tastes good and it makes me feel better too so that’s a win-win! If you just can’t make your own, go for organic canned or frozen chicken soup or broth. I add organic red pepper flakes to my chicken soup because the pepper adds immunity boosting phytochemicals and it also helps clear a stuffy nose.

 

2. Hot tea- Nothing helps to soothe a sore throat more than hot tea. Make sure it’s a brand that doesn’t add sugar or artificial ingredients, I use Matcha green tea or Tazo wild orange. Make sure to use filtered water to steep your tea bag in. Tea is full of antioxidants and phytochemicals so it’s full of good health.

 

 

3. Raw honey/Manuka honey- Raw honey is pure, unheated, unpasteurized and unprocessed nectar from flowers. That’s the important part because it preserves all the natural vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients, and other nutritional elements. It differs from processed commercial honey because of those reasons. Consuming LOCAL raw honey is even more important because experts believe that consuming raw honey from local sources is beneficial for treating seasonal allergies like Hay Fever, as well as asthma, and for protecting your immune system. Manuka honey is a sort of super charged version of raw honey. It is produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native manuka bush. It has antibacterial, antibiotic and antioxidant properties. It’s like the superhero of honeys. Read my past post,  “A Honey of a Cure” for more information on Manuka honey.

 

4. Cinnamon- Another of my favorite home remedies. One teaspoon of cinnamon has as many antioxidants as a half cup of blueberries, and cinnamon’s natural antimicrobial properties have been shown to fight strains of E. coli, as well as Candida yeast. Also, though it is technically not sweet, “sweet spices” like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger have been shown to boost satiety and mimic sweetness, so you are less apt to grab a doughnut or cupcake.

5. Salsa- This one may take you by surprise but salsa is one of the most effective natural cold remedies around. It’s filled with immunity-boosting vitamin C and phytochemicals, the spiciness helps clear your stuffy nose and break up congestion.

6. Eggs- Eggs are rich in zinc, which is an immune system booster that can get rid of cold symptoms.  They contain many vitamins and antioxidants, and are considered nature’s perfect food. Read more about eggs in my post, “An Eggcellent Protein”.

So here’s how I eat when I have a cold, first I start with a cup of tea with a teaspoon of raw honey and a cinnamon stick. Next I make scrambled eggs with salsa on the side. Finally I end the day with a big bowl of my steaming and delicious chicken soup. See my previous post, “From Soup to Nuts, Soup’s Got it All” for the recipe. I know that’s not a lot of food, however when I’m sick I just can’t eat very much. I definitely make up for it once I am recovered.

Those are my home cold remedies, and I hope they give you healing and comfort should the yuck monster strike you. Using cold remedies like these will help you live a life of vitality- with Valerie!