By taking small steps towards building up our immunity we’d suggest you take a trip to your kitchen and let these simple home remedies help you in fighting those germs and keeping your body’s defenses up!
1. Ginger: Nothing says monsoons better than a good cup of adark vali cha. Well, not only is it calming to the soul but the ginger in it also helps easing throat infections. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial properties keeps the body’s defences up against cough, fever, chills and congestion. A spoonful of honey mixed with ginger extract can help your child get rid of all the irritation and congestion in their respiratory tract. Ginger can also help ease out the aches and pains.
2. Garlic: Garlic has benefits un-paralleled. From help keeping your blood pressure in check to keep your gut healthy, it does it all. It’s antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties stimulate the immune system and keep diseases at bay. Add some garlic to your everyday curries, mix it up with some chutneys and enjoy the flavour and the health! The Allicin in garlic also helps to fight allergies and respiratory infections, it is also a great natural blood thinner.
3. Turmeric: The age-old ingredient from mom’s kitchen can work wonders when it comes to immunity. Be it in your food, milk or even your tea, turmeric helps cure wounds, clears skins, aids in digestions and benefits your bones. Curcumin, a compound present in turmeric, is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties that help boost immunity. It also is a great anti-oxidant which helps to slow down the oxidative processes in the body and keep you young!
4. Hing (Asafoetida): Hing or Asafoetida has properties that help boost your immunity with its anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and anti-viral properties. It keeps the digestive tract in-check and targets call damaging free radicals, which are contributors of various diseases. You can add it in your dal and other meals to enhance taste and wellness.
5. Pepper: Pepper has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s carminative properties also help in digestion and maintaining gut health, but importantly, its expectorant properties helps break up the mucus and phlegm depositions in the respiratory tract thereby providing relief from the nasal congestion and sinusitis. You can add this effective ingredient in your diet by sprinkling some on your eggs, your salads, soups and even spice up your chai!
6. Cloves: Cloves contain an active ingredient eugenol that fights off disease causing bacteria in the body thus, reducing the chance of infection. They also have antioxidant properties which aid the immune system in fighting off oxidative damage and cell-damaging free radicals. Clove has been used for ages as a remedy for acute pains and it is also an excellent respiratory herb.
7. Cinnamon: Commonly known as Dalchini, Cinnamon contains sufficient amounts of manganese, iron, calcium and fibre. Its essential oils including Cinnamyl acetate and cinnamaldehyde boost immunity. Cinnamon is also used a wonderful cardio-protective herbs which helps to keep the blood pressure in check and it is also a great anti-oxidant.
Inputs by Dr Manoj Kutteri, Wellness Director, Atmantan Wellness Centre
