Plenty of over-the-counter remedies are available, but there really is something to the old-fashioned chicken soup cure that your grandmother tried to foist off on you. Besides the warmth that courses through your body and the unblocked nasal passages from the steam rising from your bowl, chicken soup is easy to digest and nutritious. The vitamin B5 and protein in chicken help boost your immune system and carrots, dark leafy greens, yellow vegetables and tomatoes add beta-carotene and vitamin C. One researcher actually found an amino acid in chicken soup that chemically resembles a drug prescribed for respiratory problems.
Adding lots of garlic to that soup also adds to its curative powers. Garlic bolsters the immune system and can kill viruses and bacteria responsible for colds and flu. It will also repel other people who might otherwise pass along their nasty germs. A less "aromatic" cold and cough cure is licorice, but that gives you black teeth until you brush away the residue.
If you do go for the garlic, you can combat the resultant bad breath with parsley or tea. The compounds in black, green, and oolong tea stop the growth of bacteria that breed bad breath. Herbal teas that aren't derived from the tea plant may not do the trick.
Certain foods can help with other maladies, as well. Suffer from migraine headaches? Try fatty fish like trout, sardines and herring. They're high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower the body's production of prostaglandins. These are hormone-like chemicals that can induce migraine-causing inflammation and pain.
Berries, with their super-high levels of vitamin C, help slow the wear and tear on your joints. A Boston University Medical Center study shows that arthritis sufferers who had the highest vitamin C intake were much less likely to strain or injure their joints than those with lower levels of the vitamin. Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are available year-round now, so they can work their magic in winter as well as in summertime.
Stress and anxiety can be relieved with low-fat popcorn, honey, graham crackers, or whole-wheat pretzels. These low-fat carbs increase production of seratonin in the brain, and that helps relax you. Another seratonin booster is chocolate, so it's advisable to treat yourself to a few Hershey's Kisses if you're feeling irritable. Of course, you could get even more irritable if that chocolate finds its way to your thighs -- don't go Kiss crazy.
So, if you're down with a cold or the flu or some other ailment is bothering you, head to the kitchen instead of the medicine chest. As your grandmother said, "Eat it -- it's good for you."
