It's winter and that means: cold and flu season. While we're busy coughing, sneezing and feeling miserable, there are foods to eat to improve your health.
1. Onions - Seriously, onions are a super food. The sulfides in onions may contribute to lowering blood pressure. Onions also contain large amounts of flavonoids, which are known to protect against cardiovascular disease. Although delicious, the Bloomin' Onion is more fried food than awesome onion. Try roasting onions with sweet potatoes.
2. Garlic - Stop thinking about garlic breath; if you're sick you shouldn't be playing tonsil-hockey anyway. Eating garlic gives you a boost of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide can help relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. Research shows that garlic-rich diets may help prevent against breast, prostate and colon cancers. Slice a clove of garlic and put it on homemade pizza or add minced garlic to brown rice.
3. Honey - The benefits of honey depend on the type of honey you use. Raw honey contains more of the antibacterial and antiviral •phytonutrients. Honey has been used for centuries to treat colds, burns and cuts. Honey is great in tea, but try spreading it on an English muffin or toast.
4. Tea - Yes, I know you know all about the health benefits of tea. It has antioxidant •polyphenols, which are major cancer fighters. Studies have shown that drinking two cups of tea per day might lower the risk of ovarian cancer by 46 percent. Bottom line, tea helps sooth your sore throat more than popping •Ricolas.
5. Ginger - Americans don't use ginger often, which is unfortunate because ginger adds amazing flavor to many dishes. Ginger is celebrated in herbal medicine because of its ability to grant gastrointestinal relief. Ginger is used to help prevent motion sickness. Women use ginger to reduce the nausea and vomiting sometimes associated with pregnancy. Ginger can be scary to use because it looks weird. Don't worry, all you do is peel away the outer skin and then follow the recipe. Try grating some ginger and steeping it with hot water for ginger tea.
Put away those tissues and cough drops, and grab some good-for-you grub. What's on your plate?
Elizabeth Lundblad is a junior studying journalism and a reporter for The Post. E-mail her your favorite health foods at el246506@ohiou.edu
3 Culture
Elizabeth Lundblad
