Cold comfort food

Runny noses, sore throats and rasping coughs8212;winter blues are made of these. You could, however, beat the chill if you ate foods that protect you from the cold...

Runny noses, sore throats and rasping coughs8212;winter blues are made of these. You could, however, beat the chill if you ate foods that protect you from the cold and boost your immunity. Here8217;s a list:

Garlic
Garlic contains a strong-smelling compound called allicin that has anti-bacterial properties. A study published in June in Advances in Therapy: The International Journal of Drug and Diagnostic Research showed that eating garlic regularly can protect you against the common cold virus. Over 12 weeks, a group of people was made to eat a garlic supplement while another group was given a placebo. It was found that the garlic treatment provided effective protection against the common cold for many, if not most, of the subjects. Those who were given garlic and still caught a cold usually had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms than those who did not eat garlic. 8220;The allicin in garlic can prevent attack by the common cold virus. People can include garlic in their everyday diets by adding it to vegetables, soups and tea,8221; says Dr Sakshi Chawla, senior dietician, Fortis, Noida.

Fenugreek/Methi
Methi increases the resistance of the body against cold, allergy and viral infections. 8220;While methi is ideally used as a digestive aid, it also protects our bodies against the cold. You can add methi seeds to a hot cup of tea or warm milk,8221; says nutritionist Shikha Sharma. 8220;Methi seeds can also be added to a cup of tea to cure a sore throat,8221; says Dr Chawla.

Ginger
Ginger is not only beneficial in the treatment of diarrhoea, arthritis and heart disease, it is also known to cure common cold, flu, headaches and other ailments common in the cold weather. 8220;The important, active components of ginger are thought to be volatile oils and pungent phenol compounds such as gingerols and shagaols. These protect our bodies against the cold,8221; says Dr S K Aggarwal, internal medicine, Apollo Hospitals. 8220;You can grate ginger and put it in your morning cup of tea or add it to your vegetables,8221; says Sharma.

Peanuts
Peanuts have high concentration of protein and vitamin B3 and are a great snack to munch on during winters. 8220;The presence of antioxidants in peanuts protects you from the cold in the winter months,8221; says Dr Chawla.nbsp;

Millet/Bajra
Millet, usually fed to birds, warms you in winter and is nutritious. You could add it to your diet in the form of bajra rotis or bajra khichdi. 8220;Bajra seeds are also rich in phytochemicals, which lowers cholesterol. It is also rich in B-complex vitamins, vitamin E and contains a lot of fibre,8221; says Dr Chawla.

Nutmeg
Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat joint and muscle pain, a common problem during the cold. It can also help with respiratory problems such as a bad cough or a common cold. 8220;Nutmeg is a key ingredient in many cough syrups too. However, even though it has a lot of benefits, it can prove to be toxic if taken in high doses,8221; says Dr A.K. Bali, senior consultant, internal medicine, Moolchand Medcity. Consult your doctor for the right dose before you add it to your daily diet.

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Amla
Amla is a natural antioxidant and the richest natural source of vitamin C. 8220;Amla is highly beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma and bronchitis, disorders that get worse in the winter,8221; says Dr Bali.