Get well sooner – what to take for a speedy recovery

March 9th, 2010

If you are laid low with an infection, supplements and herbal remedies can help to beat the bugs and re-build strength of the immune system.

Astragalus
Stops viruses establishing themselves in the respiratory tract. Take at the onset of a cold or flu, and when you keep getting one cold after another.

Camomile tea
Encourages a good nights rest, which is crucial for a robust immune system to fight back against infections.

Cranberry
800mg of cranberry extract a day can be substituted for the juice to help treat urinary tract infections.

Echinacea
A natural anti-biotic agent and stimulates virus fighting interferon. Take for three weeks at the onset of infection.

Garlic
Look for standardised extract tablets, such as Kwai Garlic, to treat coughs and colds.

Ginger
Make a ginger tea infusion to relieve aches caused by colds and flu.

Gingseng
Stimulates killer ‘T’ cells that destroy bacteria and viruses. Take daily if exposed to people with coughs and colds,

Liquorice
Relieves symptoms of sore throat by thinning the mucus and reducing inflammation. Take 200mg liquorice capsules three times a day.

St John’s Wort
Repeated infections can reduce serotonin levels in the brain, which lowers mood and in turn makes us more susceptible to infections. Take 300mg daily of standardised extract, such as Kira St John’s Wort.

Valerian
Promotes sleep by raising the brain chemical GABA.

White willow bark
Can relieve headaches, muscle aches and pains and fever caused by infections through its aspirin like salicin. Try 60-120mg a day.

Click here to find out what to eat to boost your immune system…

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Boost your immunity by eating smarter

March 9th, 2010

The end of winter may be in sight, but there’s still plenty of cold weather to come if you live in the UK and other colder climes. And this is the time of year when you’re particularly susceptible to picking up colds, flu and other infections, because your body has been starved of sunlight for months and your immune system has been working overtime.

But don’t just sit back and give in to the bugs. By eating the right things you can actually fight back and boost your immunity – and I don’t mean vitamin pills. Sure, they have their place, but sort out your diet and you’ll stand a far better chance of stopping bacteria and viruses from taking hold and ruining your spring.

Seasonal vegetables are a good start, with bright orange and dark green varieties top of your list, as they convert into vitamin A. So go for carrots, spinach, cabbage and pumpkins, supported by protein-rich foods like meat, eggs, fish, pulse vegetables and nuts.

What’s more, ignore your friends’ protests and pile on the garlic – the most raw the better. It has legendary infection-fighting properties, with the added advantage of helping you get a seat on the tube in the rush hour, or whatever your preferred mode of public transport may be.

Finally, another favourite that boosts your resistance to infections is shiitake mushrooms, thanks to the presence of the supernutrient lentinan.

Balancing your diet well during winter and early spring can lay the groundwork for a healthier year.

Click here for more ways to eat to beat the bugs.

… and if you do pick up a bug, click here for your guide to which supplements and herbal remedies can speed up your recovery.

Meanwhile, click here to find out why broccoli is a great immunity booster and can help you live longer.

Plus click here for more immunity boosting food news.

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Which foods fill you up? A Twitter debate…

February 19th, 2010

One thing that we’ve been delighted to discover, having recently broken the 1,000 followers milestone on Twitter, is the huge number of foodies who tweet.

From healthy eating brands like us, to a brilliant collection of food bloggers and lots of people in search of great things to eat, Twitter is brimming with a marvelous collection of food-related comments, information and tips.

Although pretty new to the social media foodie scene, we hope that our mix of observations, articles, tips and recipes is adding to the debate.

In fact, we think we’ve tapped into a hot topic. One subject close to all foodies’ hearts… and stomachs… is how to control their obsession in order to prevent piling on the pounds or eating unhealthily.

A number of tweeters, led by the Love Food Love Drink e-zine, were recently considering which foods help to keep you full so you can avoid over-snacking between meals. Here’s the fascinating Twitter strand…

Luvfoodluvdrink: Is it just me or do eating apples make you really really hungry?

Beckpaskin: @luvfoodluvdrink – YES! But I’ve found that if you eat some protein with an apple (some nuts, cheese, glass of milk) it fills you up nicely.

JournoBird: @luvfoodluvdrink – I think it’s the acid. Always makes your belly rumble, especially during important meetings!

Luvfoodluvdrink: @BeckyPaskin – …or sandwich. My apple was supposed to be a mid-morning snack, but I ended up eating my lunch by 12. Oh well, two lunches today!

Beckpaskin: @luvfoodluvdrink – Schoolboy error. Still, you could do worse than have two lunches in a day!

Luvfoodluvdrink: @JournoBird @BeckyPaskin – Sandwich didn’t work, so am testing an @AdorFood choc bar. Apparently suppresses hunger. Tastes good too!


So there you have it. A tweeting session about food that keeps you full reaches its logical conclusion – Ador snacks!

We just love tweeting foodies!

Follow JournoBird Jamie Cleary on Twitter, who apparently loves food, loves wine, loves people, loves life.

Becky Paskin writes and blogs for BigHospitality.com

luvfoodluvdrink is the Twitter moniker for top foodie website LoveFoodLoveDrink

Join the food debate on our Facebook discussion page

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