Advice for the Winter Cold and Flu Season

 

Charlie Sue loves apples for playing catch, chewing, and eating.

Three good friends, at the same time, told me about their work-stopping, doctor-visiting disorders. Hippa, Ferrpa, and other federal codes prevent me from naming names.

One should start with admitting that medicines are usually aimed at reducing symptoms. Over the counter potions are often used and provide a second massive dose of income for pharmacies. Besides, the scare headlines in emails and Internet graphics alternate - "Be sure to..." and "Never consume..." shrieks of panicky persuasion. 

I picked up eye drops at the pharmacy yesterday. The new pharmacist came to the window for a "consultation" about the prescription, which I have used for years. The young lady asked, "Have you used these drops?" I said, "I'm an addict" and she burst into laughter.

I am not anti-pharmacy, a business I have supported for decades. However, nutrition experts have shown me that starting with good food is best in preventing and curing problems.

Zinc is a powerful ingredient both in preventing illness and curing the problem. Many people rely on zinc in vitamin bottles, but I would rather trust the Creating Word than a business somewhere, especially Flintstones.

Here are some sources of zinc from meat and vegetables, provided by God.

• Beef is a very good for zinc, half the daily source.
• Beans and lentils provide a lesser amount.
• Pumpkin and sesame seeds also have zinc.
• Eggs and whole wheat include some zinc.
• Dark chocolate has zinc, magnesium, and manganese, three reasons to enjoy it.

Decongestants

I am a daily consumer of apples, and Charlie Sue agrees. I have two giant Crisp apples each day, and Charlie eats one or two cores. When I have older apples, I throw them out the door so she can chase and chew the apples.

I have found apples to be instant in decongesting. The sugary medicines soften mucous to help us cough and swallow, which is better than the irritation of dry coughing. Apples are a bit acidic, so they do this without a load of sugar syrup. Over-the-counter cough medicine is priced like champagne and almost as effective. Other ingredients in the bottles include antihistamines and the biker drug Dextromethorphan. When this area has huge biker rallies, the Dextromethorphan cough syrups disappear from the shelves.

Pineapples are inexpensive but tricky to cut. Nevertheless, they are loaded with vitamin C and also contain bromelain, which softens mucous.

Provides plenty of nutrients

Pineapple is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. One cup of pineapple chunks will deliver:

• Vitamin C: You’ll get about one-third of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C, which aids in tissue growth and repair. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system and may also help fight cancer, heart disease and arthritis.
• Manganese: Pineapple has more than 100% of your recommended daily amount of this essential trace element. Manganese helps with bone formation, immune response and metabolism.
• Fiber: Nearly 10% of your daily fiber needs are in one cup of pineapple. “Fiber is necessary for a healthy gut and can help you stave off hunger,” Zumpano says.
• B vitamins: Pineapple gives you a healthy dose of several B vitamins, including thiamin, niacin, B6 and folate. These nutrients help your body process energy from the food you eat. They’re also critical to forming new red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your organs and tissues.
• Various minerals: Pineapple contains several minerals your body needs for proper function, including copper, potassium and magnesium.

I also use saline mist for my nose and a humidifier to reduce dry furnace air.

Dark Chocolate - a plant-based medicine!

A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa contains (1Trusted Source):

• 11 grams of fiber
• 66% of the DV for iron
• 57% of the DV for magnesium
• 196% of the DV for copper
• 85% of the DV for manganese

In addition, it has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.

Warning! Warning! Advice from a donut expert!

Of course, 100 grams (3.5 ounces) is a fairly large amount and not something you should be consuming daily. These nutrients also come with 600 calories and moderate amounts of sugar.