Fruit as a Natural Cold and Allergy Remedy
Food Category that Tastes Good and Soothes Symptoms
Oct 12, 2009
Most everyone, even children, likes some kind of fruit. This is a good thing since government guidelines recommend at least 1 ½ -2 cups of fruit per day for adult women. See chart for other age groups.
Contributions to Health
- Fruit tastes good and can satisfy a desire for something sweet.
- Fruits are packed with vitamins and nutrients that protect us from myriad diseases, i.e. cancer and heart disease, as well as the common cold. This is often done through strengthening the immune system.
- This food group is usually eaten raw which preserves their Vitamin C content. This is known to be a boost to your immune system which helps you fight off colds and allergies.
- Glutathione in many fruits stimulates the immune system microphages which mark viruses to be destroyed.
Specific Fruit Remedies
While most fruits will improve our immune system, below are some standouts, particularly regarding colds or allergies.
Blueberries were used by Native Americans for coughs.
Wild cherries were also thought to suppress coughing by this group.
Lemon juice and honey (juice from ½ lemon and 1 tsp of honey) has long been used as a relief for common cold symptoms, particularly coughs.
Oranges, orange rind or orange juice have long had a reputation for treating a cough or the common cold.
Fresh raspberries are recommended for treating or preventing sinus infections, according to 101 Foods that Could Save Your Life by David Grotto. Grotto points out that one of our sugar alternatives, xylitol, comes from, you guessed it, raspberries.
Warm elderberry wine is also listed as treatment for sore throat and influenza by Grotto. He indicates the plain juice is an old-fashioned relief for symptoms of colds, asthma and bronchitis
Boiled black current juice is another home remedy for sore throats.
Watermelon, grapefruit, and avocados are rich in glutathione.
Cautions
Care should be exercised if you must purchase commercial juices. The benefits are questionable in some of these. If not making your own, at least buy 100% juice with no added sugar or locate a store which makes its own. Juice bars are becoming more widespread or look for a local health food store.
Live Without Coughing
Often after other symptoms of a cold or allergies are gone, there is a lingering cough. Try including fresh fruits daily to increase your immune system’s effectiveness in addition to home remedies.
Keep Your Body in Top Form
Fruit is the closest thing to a miracle drug that you will find. It strengthens the immune system to save us from those everyday miseries, such as coughs, but this food category also reduces the risk for many of today's chronic or fatal diseases, i.e. cancer and heart problems. Enjoy eating it and live long. Remember many fresh fruits and vegetables are also anti-agers….and who couldn’t use more of those!
For information on depleted nutrients in present-day food, see article, "Why Our Purchased Food Lacks Nutrients."
References
Grotto, David. 101 Foods that Could Save Your Life. Bantam Dell, 2008.
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