4 Anti-Inflammatory, Immune-Boosting Foods To Add To Your Routine
This might not be the cure for the common cold, but it is a good dose of immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory goodies in a yummy soothing drink. The stronger your immune system is, the stronger your chances against the invasion of the seasonal bacteria and viruses.
For long-term health and wellness you also need anti-inflammatory foods, spices and herbs in your daily food-life, because inflammation is considered the root-cause of our un-wellness. Here are the elements of my Warming, Cold-Fighting, Anti-Inflammatory, Immune-Boosting Tonic and what they do for your health:
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory superfood. It is normally used for digestive issues and can help you ease nausea when you feel sick. It is also used to lower pain that is caused by inflammation, such as joint pain, which often comes along with the flu. It helps promote detoxification by creating inner heat so you can burn off those bacteria that are haunting you.
Cinnamon is “anti-microbial” which means it slows the growth of bacteria. It is also anti-inflammatory, so it boosts your overall health and immune-system. Additionally the scent can help boost your brain, which is helpful when you feel all foggy from a cold. Cinnamon also helps balance blood-sugar, which can be helpful when you add the raw honey, even though raw honey does not affect blood-sugar imbalances the way other sugars do. Cinnamon and ginger is used together as a remedy for the common cold in Chinese medicine.
Star Anise is a high anti-oxidant and helps fight respiratory infections; it helps to both drink it and to take a nice breath in while drinking it too. It helps against bacteria, yeast and fungi, and is high in shikimic acid, which is what is used in flu medication. Make sure you get the Chinese version though, since the Japanese one is poisonous.
Raw honey is another superfood, but choose the raw unpasteurized version to get the benefits. The syrup stuff will not do the trick. Raw honey is anti-everything about the cold; anti-bacterial and anti-viral and anti-fungal so it can help soothe not only your sweet-tooth, but also your cold. It is also anti-inflammatory and alkalizing where sugar is acidifying and it is an anti-oxidant. It is used to treat respiratory congestion, bronchitis and asthma.
Now this remedy is not just great for the common cold. Since it helps fight bacteria and fungi in your body overall, it is great potion for fighting off the bacteria of candida too.
Adding to the goodness, all of the above ingredients have great digestive and stomach soothing properties, so if you don’t have a cold, you can still brew this drink for an after dinner tonic to help you feel better and beat a sweet craving too.
A Warming, Cold-Fighting, Anti-Inflammatory, Immune-Boosting Tonic
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 chunk of ginger sliced (about 1″)
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 1 star of anise
- 3 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey per cup
Preparation
1. Boil everything but the raw honey in water.
2. Once you have boiled it for a good 10-15 minutes, strain the brew and leave the ingredients in the pot for another brew. Serve it with that teaspoon of raw honey. You can keep the ingredients for a couple of brews and just add more ginger.
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