Fight the Flu… With Onions!
Flu season is upon us. And if you’re like me and want to stay healthy the natural way (no flu shots here!), do this: Eat onions.
Red onions (as well as apples and broccoli and tea) are rich in a nutrient called quercetin that may help to ward off the influenza virus.
In a recent study, published in the American Journal of Physiology, quercetin was found to negate the dip in immunity that comes with physical fatigue. And that “dip” is the window of opportunity for viruses and bacteria to take root and hold you hostage until they run their course.
What’s the best way to get this natural flu fighter? First, because quercetin is highly concentrated in the skins of fruits and veggies, make sure yours are organic (and unpeeled, for maximum potency). And since quercetin isn’t destroyed by heat, a bowl of French onion soup, a warming cup of green tea, or a fragrant serving of cinnamon baked apples should do the trick. Much more enjoyable than a flu shot… and the only side effect is YUM!
[Ed. Note: As nutrition expert Kelley Herring points out, you can find plenty of all-natural methods for staying healthy. Now, you can access the latest breakthroughs in weight-loss programs… healthful recipes… and other ideas for achieving optimal health – all from one of the largest integrative-medicine practices in the country.Survive the holidays with Kelley’s brand-new recipe e-books, Guilt-Free Desserts and Healthy Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres. You’ll find 60+ healthy recipes you can easily make at home.]
Kelley Herring
Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet – a multimedia company that educates on how foods promote health and protect against disease. As a young adult, Kelley battled a debilitating health condition that went misdiagnosed by multiple doctors for more than a year. Finding no help from “modern medicine”, she turned to her own knowledge of biochemistry and her passion for health research. She soon learned that her symptoms were related to nutrition and within weeks, she charted a course back to health with nothing more than simple lifestyle changes and the power of the plate. The lessons she learned spawned the creation of Healing Gourmet. Kelley is a firm believer in vigorous exercise, moderate sun exposure and delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet’s Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility.