Pure Ella

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live better : home remedies for colds and flu

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Hello my dear friends, I hope you’re well! Me, not so much ~ I came down with the flu yesterday and experienced one of the worst nights and days I could remember. Of course, I think it somehow relates to me not adding ‘boost you immune system function by eating more fruits and vegetables!’ to yesterday’s post about 10 things to do in winter. Sorry post, because that certainly should be #1. I think I’ve learned my lesson and not offend my blog anymore ;) Well, let’s take a break from me having a relationship with my blog and focus on today’s post. See, I had to redeem myself!

Whether you’re sick or have someone who is sick with a cold or flu, or are in perfect health at the moment, knowing how to nurture and what to do when the cards fall in your hands, is the best thing you can do for yourself and your family.

Here are my 3 picks for the Live Better addition to the blog : home remedies for colds and flu:

1. Eat more garlic.

Add it to all your favourite foods, by gently increasing the amount so you’re husband doesn’t think you’re warding off vampires. Eat it raw, sliced into sandwiches and paninis. Make fresh humus, other dips, sauces. It does not matter how you do it – but eat more garlic!

2. Make a homemade syrup.

This is an easy, quick and very inexpensive way to have a homemade syrup at home ~ so you know what’s in it and can’t overdose.

It is made up of 2 simple ingredients: onions and honey (or agave nectar, maple syrup (any other natural sweetner if vegan). (optionally, you could add a sliced clove of garlic to this as well.) Simply, slice the onion (or onions – if the whole household has the bug). And drizzle in about 1/4 cup of good quality honey. We never really measure but it turns out great every time. Mix, cover and let stand for about 3-4 hours at room temperature. You need the time to allow the sugar from the honey to release all the juices from the onions. The liquid that accumulates is your syrup.

Please be certain that this tastes really good, and you don’t get the flavour of onions or garlic (if using), it’s actually sweet and tasty and even kids* love it. Serve with a clean spoon everytime you hear a cough or a sad puppy face on someone with a kleenex in their hands. Good for up to 3 days, store in the refrigerator over night. * my 4 year old actually prefers this from the over-the-counter syrups we used to buy, my siblings make it for their kids, and my husband remembers this concoction served up when he was a kid ;)

3. Increase your Vitamin C. Make a lemonAid

For a big-time Vitamin C boost, squeeze one or more lemons and mix that with filtered or boiled, but cooled water and a spoonful of raw sugar, honey or agave. Optionally, you could add a few drops of Echinacea (I like EchinaSeal from St. Francis) to create a more potent boost for your immune system. Do stay within room temperatures though, when serving your immune-boosting lemonAid and avoid beverages directly from your fridge or with ice cubes. Your soar throat and digestive system will thank you for it.

Overall, remember to eat healthy meals with lots of vegetables, relax, nap if you can and nurture yourself and your family back to good health. Get well soon!

Please share if you have some homemade remedies for colds and flu, so we get a little wiser, and I get better faster ;) xo

Comments

  1. I LOVE garlic and we actually eat a lot of it, but I have never heard of the homemade syrup! Very cool! I really want to make some and try it out :) I hope you get to feeling better soon!

  3. Dear Ella, thank you for stopping by and leaving me so much encouragement!

    I am going to try the almond butter like you said, and continue with the smoothies…even though, today, I needed a break from them :)

    Your website is filled with so much info – thank you!

    m.

  4. my mom would feed us a lot of gingery brothy soups.. and of course lots of honey.. honey is out of the picture these days.. so its just some nice gingery and chai spiced maple and jaggery syrup!
    hope you feel better soon.

  7. Add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Stop eating junk foods mainly sweets. There are many more natural ways on how to get rid of a cold that you can try. However, cold can also be an sign of a severe health ailment. Make sure you get in touch with a specialist right away.

  8. For me the most effective remedy has always been tea with lemon, honey and ginger. This remedy is very simple, but it works!

  9. This is an additional tips to our most common way in fighting colds and flu which is the tea and ginger as well.
    It’s always been better to prevent that to cure. Heard about Aim World? The iProtect 24/7 enables someone to be protected from flu, viruses and bacteria , its an airborne protection that creates 1-2 meter force field.