|
Look
to your kitchen for relief from colds
November 18, 04
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
We’re entering cold season, so it’s not too early
to start thinking about ways to cope when you’ve got
the sniffles.
When you catch a cold, there isn’t much – if anything
– your doctor can do for you that you can’t do
for yourself. Colds are caused by viruses, and there’s
no cure. The reality is you’ve got a couple days to
a week to tough it out. Getting by involves treating the symptoms.
Much of what you need to alleviate cold symptoms can be found
in your own kitchen. Without considering the varying claims
regarding supplements, and whether in lieu of or in combination
with over-the-counter cold medications, good strategies for
comfort include:
* Hot fluids. They can soothe sore throats and clear postnasal
drip, dilute mucus and help stimulate sinuses to drain. Good
choices: broth, hot apple cider, herbal tea, and steamy soups
such as potato, chicken noodle, miso, minestrone, lentil and
tomato. And - as I mentioned in my column last week –
Chinese hot and sour soup can rival any over-the-counter medication
for relieving nasal congestion. Aromatic teas such as ginger,
chamomile or peppermint can be especially comforting. Add
honey and lemon if you like. If your cold or mild flu is accompanied
by fever, the extra fluids will also help you stay well hydrated.
* Comfort foods with nutritional value. Nothing wrong with
a little TLC. You’ll do yourself the most good, however,
if you choose foods that are high in vitamins and minerals
and steer clear of cakes, cookies, chips and soft drinks.
Good choices: hot whole grain toast with cinnamon and sugar,
applesauce, English muffins with jelly or honey, oatmeal with
brown sugar, rice pudding, graham crackers and milk, noodles,
mashed potatoes, fruit crisp, and smoothies.
* Foods that are easy to digest. Most of the foods listed
above, including fruits, vegetables, soups (excluding those
with a rich cream base), and cereals are light on the stomach
and less likely to cause discomfort than fattier foods that
take longer to digest, such as fried foods, meats, cheeses,
rich sauces and desserts. Other good choices: fruit salad,
whole grain dry or cooked breakfast cereals, Popsicles (which
can soothe a sore throat), and fruit juice. If full-strength
juices seem too sweet, dilute them with some seltzer water.
* Spicy foods, if you can tolerate them. Foods with a kick:
hot chile peppers, salsa, horseradish, and vinegar (like in
Chinese hot and sour soup) can clear a stuffy nose in a jiffy.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to get plenty
of rest and regular doses of fresh air and sunshine. Gargling
with warm salt water or sucking on a few lemon drops can also
make a sore throat feel better.
Anyone caring for themselves or for someone else who is sick
– short term or long term – may be interested
in this good little book: Laurel’s Kitchen Caring: Recipes
for Everyday Home Caregiving, by Laurel Robertson (Ten Speed
Press, 1997). Laurel is the author of Laurel’s Kitchen
fame – the classic, homey vegetarian cookbook that many
of us knew and loved in the ’70s. In her latest book,
Laurel draws from personal experience and shares her insights
into caring for those who are ill with equal helpings of love
and compassion.
The book includes basic information about feeding sick people
as well as advice for caregivers about how to look after themselves.
Most of the book is composed of simple recipes for comfort
foods – some contain only two ingredients – with
variations and modifications to reduce fat and cholesterol
in some cases.
And here’s a thought: You don’t have to be sick
to treat yourself and others to some TLC in the form of foods
like cinnamon toast, hot soup, and aromatic tea from your
kitchen.
|
