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Though this may come as a shock to those who believe that vegans
are invulnerable, we are in fact susceptible - though not as often
or severely - to the odd cold or ailment. Blame it on the sneezy
coworker who used your phone surrupticiously, the guy in the elevator
who coughed and blew his nose all the way up to the 19th floor,
the stress of being a high-powered, industrial strength vegan
that has compromised your immune system: however you got it, you
got it. Now, if you take care of your ailment when it is still
in it’s incipient stage, you have more of a likelihood of stopping
it in its tacks. Here is a common sense approach to soothing your
body with the world’s best medicine: food and herbs.
Colds:
Many people start getting colds around this time of year. Keep
in mind that spicy foods warm the body literally and figuratively:
add garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper to comforting stews, soups
and casseroles. Also, look for foods rich in beta carotene such
as sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, broccoli, and winter squashes
to soothe the mucus membrane. Now is an especially good time to
be vegan: dairy products are very mucus-forming and will exacerbate
a cold. Also, the herb echinacea is immune-enhancing, and can
be taken in the form of tea, tincture or supplement. Taking a
warm bath with about 10 drops of eucalyptus or thyme essential
oil will also help clear your head.
Cough:
Vitamin C and beta carotene, both plentiful in a vegan diet, bolster
the immune system, which helps to prevent and cure lung ailments.
Oranges, plums, mangoes, broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts,
kale, carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are nutrient-rich.
Spicy flavorings, such as garlic and ginger encourage clearing
of the lungs. Warm soups and stews with these ingredients will
help encourage clearing of the lungs. The English cough remedy
of thyme tea is also helpful; add 2 teaspoons of fresh or 1 teaspoon
dried thyme in just-boiled water, cover and let steep for 4 minutes.
Strain and sip. To help sooth inflamed tissue, add 1 teaspoon
of anise seed.
Headaches:
A headache can be prevented by boosting your magnesium intake;
dark leafy greens, such as mustard, dandelion, arugula, kale and
collards are rich in magnesium. Avoid junk and packaged foods.
The herb rosemary contains a compound called rosemaricin that
can soothe a headache: Add 1 teaspoon dried or 2 teaspoons fresh
rosemary to one cup of just boiled water, cover it, and let it
steep for 4 minutes. Drain and sip. If your headache is caused
by stress, whole grains such as barley, buckwheat and brown rice
will induce the release of seratonin in your brain, which is the
calming hormone. Lemon balm and chamomile can help calm the nerves
too.
Fatigue:
Don’t turn to coffee because caffeine depletes our B vitamin reserves,
which we need for energy. The best foods for fighting fatigue
are fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, remember to drink at least
eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, since fluids help wash out
wastes and toxins. Avoid fried foods, as well as overeating, which
put a stress on the digestive system. Additionally, Siberian ginseng
is an energy-boosting herb, that can be taken as a tea, tincture
or supplement.
Tired Eyes:
Been on the computer all day? Then turn to beta carotene - carrots,
sweet potatoes, winter squash, dark leafy greens, peaches and
apricots. Tobacco, caffiene and refined sugar all rob us of important
nutrients.
Anxiety:
Look to B vitamins, commonly found in barley, brown rice, soybeans,
lentils and chickpeas. Additionally, calming herbs such as lemon
balm, chamomile or lavender can offer you some relief; perhaps
make a tea with one or more of these herbs. Avoid alcohol, caffeine,
white sugar, and junk foods because they rob the body of B vitamins
and calcium. Calcium is a natural nerve tonic, so look to broccoli
and leafy greens, as well as dill seed. Eat lots of fresh, raw
veggies and fruits for vitamin C, which becomes depleted in times
of stress.
Here are a couple of recipes to help get you safely through cold
and flu season:
Spunky Squash Soup with Scallions
Throat Soothing Vegetable Stew |
