What to eat when you have a cold : effective remedies

What to eat when you have a cold? According to the United States CDC, adults have an average of 2-3 colds and children have more colds every year. Colds are caused by many viruses, but rhinoviruses are the common one.  It is difficult to produce vaccines to prevent the common cold due to the many causing cold viruses. Since, there is no cure for cold, cold treatments are aimed to relieve symptoms. Cold symptoms usually include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, headache and body aches. 

When you have a cold, in order to feel better, you should get a lot of rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat warm soups.  

What to drink when you have a cold

When you feel fatigued, keep sneezing and have a slight sore throat,  you may have a cold. When you have a sore throat, you should take care of the sore throat before it will cause you to cough. You should not wait until your cold becomes more serious and causes you to cough. At that time, It may be harder and take longer for you to recover from the cold.

You should drink warm fluids to sooth your throat and your body. Also, you should keep your body warm. Honey tea lemonade is very helpful and tasteful for soothing your throat. 

How to make honey tea lemonade?

Pour ½ cup of hot water in a ceramic tea mug, add 2 peppermint tea bags. Let the tea soak in 2 minutes, then squeeze 1/4 lemon into the mug. Then, add a small spoon of honey. Stir the mixture, so that honey can be dissolved into the fluid. Add another ½ cup of warm water into the mixture. Then, enjoy when it is still warm. 

What are the benefits of peppermint tea?

Peppermint tea and extracts have many benefits which are good for colds. Peppermint tea may help to relieve tension headaches and nasal congestion. It may also fight bacteria, and ease digestion. In addition, peppermint tea may help you to sleep better and improve your energy.  

What are the benefits of honey?

Honey has antioxidant properties as well as antifungal and antibacterial power. Honey contains an antiseptic which helps to reduce infection effectively. It also helps digestion. Try a teaspoon of honey everyday and it will help boost your energy. When you have a cold, honey can help to reduce sore throat.

What are the benefits of lemon?

Lemons are very healthy fruits. Lemons are a good source of vitamin C and citric acid. Consuming lemons may help to promote your digestion and weight loss. It may also help to prevent cancer. Add lemon to your food and drink every day to enjoy its potential health benefits. 

What to eat when you have a cold?

When you have a cold, you will feel super tired. When you have a sore throat, you often do not feel like eating. A warm bowl of salmon and oyster mushroom soup is the best choice in this situation. It is tasteful, easy to digest and helpful for your cold. 

How to prepare a salmon soup bowl?

The ingredients mentioned below are for 1 serving. You can increase the ingredients’ size proportionally if you prepare for more than 1. 

Pour 3 cups of water in a pot and boil it at a medium – high temperature. Use a pot cover to cook faster. Add ¼ cup of chopped onions into the pot. Then, add  ⅕ cup of rice. Keep boiling the mixture for 10 minutes. Add 2 teaspoon of garlic salt. Then, add a slice of salmon steak in the soup. Add ⅕ cup of chopped oyster mushroom. Cook the mixture for another 5-7 minutes. Chop 2 slices of ginger, a stem of green onion and some sprigs of cilantro into small pieces. Then, put them all into the pot. Prepare a big bowl and pour the porridge with salmon into the bowl. Spin some grinded black pepper. Enjoy the tasteful salmon and oyster mushroom soup and feel better. 

What are the benefits of onions?

Onions are rich in nutrients. It is low in calories, but contains many vitamins such vitamin B, C and minerals. Onions also contain antioxidant and antibacterial properties.  Compounds in onions can fight against inflammation and cancer. Consuming onions may help boost your heart health and control your blood sugar. 

What are the benefits of oyster mushrooms?

Oyster mushrooms are a rich source of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. A recent study suggests that consuming oyster mushrooms can boost your immune system and  fight against cancer. It may also help to regulate your cholesterol level and boost your heart health. 

What are the benefits of consuming salmon?

Salmon is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which your body cannot create, but you have to get them from your diet. Also, salmon is a great source of minerals, protein, vitamin B and potassium. In addition, salmon contains antioxidants which may help fight inflammation and reduce the risks of heart diseases. It may also help control weight loss. 

Drink a cup of honey tea lemonade, eat a bowl of salmon oyster mushrooms soup and get a lot of rest so that you will feel better.  

In addition, you can use medicated oil such as eucalyptus or lavender and eucalyptus medicated oil to promote your sleep. You can apply the medicated oil on your temple, behind your ears, on your chest and under your feet when you go to sleep. By applying medicated oil, you will feel warm and you will sleep better. 

In order to prevent the cold from becoming more severe, you should take care of yourself promptly when you just get some early signs of having a cold. Note that these recommendations for the cold are not from medical experts, however, they are used by our family, relatives and friends. We can see the great benefits of these remedies for the common cold. 

Questions and answers – what to eat when you have a cold

1. Can you substitute other types of tea for peppermint tea?

You can use other types of tea such as lemongrass and chamomile tea and so on. Lemongrass tea is used for treating the common cold, cough, vomiting, stomach aches, and high blood pressure. On the other hand, chamomile has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. People use chamomile to treat cuts and wounds.  

2. Can you use sugar instead of honey for the tea?

You can use sugar instead of honey. However, you will not get the health benefits of consuming honey. In addition, you should reduce the amount of sugar in your diets to avoid its negative effects on your health. 

3. Can you add some slices of ginger into the tea?

You definitely can add some slices of ginger in the tea. Ginger also can be good for your health. It may reduce inflammation, arthritis, improve digestion and ease the cold and flu. 

4. Can salmon be substituted by chicken for the soup?

You can substitute chicken for salmon. Chicken may take a little bit longer to cook, but it tastes good as well as salmon. You can cut chicken into small pieces, add in the pot and cook it right at the beginning. 

5. Can you add other types of vegetables in the soup?

You definitely can add other kinds of vegetables in the soup such as broccoli, carot, zucchini and so on. You can get more vitamins by adding more vegetables. 

6. Can you add turmeric in the tea or the soup?

You can add turmeric in the tea or the soup. Turmeric has powerful medical properties. Curcumin, the main ingredient found in turmeric, is the great source of antioxidants, anti-inflammation. Curcumin can reduce arthritis, heart diseases, brain diseases, cancer and depression.