Nobody likes hearing the dreaded sniffles in the workplace of someone whose nose is running like a tap. Don’t be that person that people want a bio hazard bubble around. With winter upon us, arm your pantry with some natural remedies, sure to keep the germs, and vampires, at bay. The good news is that you probably already have most of them in your pantry and they won’t break your bank balance.
GREEN TEA: Thousands of years of tea drinkers can’t be wrong, can they? Green tea is proven to have so many good qualities and health benefits and is so easy to access. A lot of people are put off by the bitter flavour, but most brands of tea now have infusions so you can enjoy the mixed flavours with the health benefits. Proven to be great for the immune system due to its high level of antioxidants, green tea has also been proven to decrease your chances of type 2 diabetes, heart disease as well as reducing stress and anxiety. It is also high in caffeine, but not as much as coffee, so you get the healthy goodness as well as a brain boost, without the jitters!
GARLIC: In my opinion, garlic makes everything taste better (yes, I’m a hit in the lunch room at work) but garlic also has powerful qualities to aid your health. Studies have shown that daily doses of garlic can reduce the longevity of a cold from a week to a day or two or to ward it off completely. It can be taken in different forms such as raw, fresh, aged, oil or boiled. Don’t want to be stinky? A lot of companies that create supplements can give you your garlic hit in tablet form, less helpful should you meet a vampire, but will make you more friends.
HONEY: Honey is the only food in the world that will never go off. True fact. Another true fact is that by having this handy pot of nature’s goodness in your pantry, you can kick that niggly cough and sore throat in the butt without the use of any prescription drugs.
There are many different types of honey, but the best ones for combatting colds are Munuka and Buckwheat. Munuka has been found to boost immune cells and buckwheat is very high in antioxidants. It’s basically the Wonder Woman of natural remedies; colds be gone!
OREGANO: Need an excuse to eat more pizza? Didn’t think so. Here’s a legitimate reason to give someone next time they question your pizza consumption. Oregano is a herb that packs one hell of a punch. Carrying vitamins A, G, E and K in its DNA it is also a great source of fibre, folate, iron and magnesium, all important factors for a healthy and happy body. Part of the mint family, oregano studies have found it helps with the relief of respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual cramps and urinary tract infections. Pizza, anyone?
