Nonna knows best: this is what you can eat against the flu
Italiamo is the site for every Italy lover. Even if you're not heading to Italy, they know how to bring the Italy feeling to you. Here you can read everything about the best pizzas, the undiscovered gems of Italy, but also what you can eat against the flu.
On Radio10 recently talked about limoncello as a miracle cure for a cold. Sounds fun, but the nonnas in Italy have never mentioned this to me (sorry, Gerard). What you can eat or drink to keep your health in check and fight the flu? It's easier than you think, because every nonna knows how to handle it in the Italian kitchen.
5x what you can eat against the flu
Basil
This green herb is widely used in Italian cuisine and is a real powerhouse. It helps you when you're cold, but it's also very good for digestion. If you need to vomit, basil can provide relief. Make a tea from the leaves and let it steep for a while. Don't expect the tea to turn green; it remains clear. If you can eat, you can of course also add basil leaves to your juice, soup, or salad.
Garlic
Did you know that garlic is one of the most powerful natural medicines? Maybe that's why nonna generously throws garlic everywhere. A bit less for the breath, but good for almost everything. Garlic gives your immune system a boost, reducing the chance of flu or a cold. And if you're already sick, garlic helps you recover faster. Garlic contains the substance allicin, which is a powerful antioxidant and acts as a natural antibiotic. When this substance enters your blood, it purifies and disinfects all your organs along the way. Not only Italian nonnas are aware of the healing properties of garlic; the Romans, Egyptians, and Greeks knew about it long ago.
Onion
Just as powerful is the onion. This vegetable is also full of antioxidants and is a natural antibiotic. Onions have been used since time immemorial to combat colds and flu. An onion contains quercetin, which fights aging, helps strengthen bones, and even reduces the risk of serious diseases What does nonna recommend for a flu or cold? You can make onion tea by boiling slices of onion in water for about ten minutes. Add some honey, and hopefully, you'll be back on your feet soon. You can also eat raw onion or place a sliced onion next to your bed if you have a stuffy nose. Be sure to throw the onion away after one night; this vegetable absorbs bacteria and viruses from the environment and can even turn completely black.
Beans
The secret of the Blue Zone in Sardinia, where people age healthily beyond a hundred years, is that the people here eat a lot of beans. These are rich in protein, magnesium, and iron. Protein is super important for good health. Proteins are the building blocks of cells. Your muscles, skin, bones, and even your blood are made up of proteins and therefore need proteins to renew old cells and create new ones. Eating beans can help support your body during illness. You can make a ribollita , an Italian bean soup, to get rid of your flu. It's packed with vitamins.
Pumpkin
If you're cold, pumpkin is your best friend, according to nonna. In the fall, all the vegetable shops in Italy are full of it. Is Mother Nature helping us in the fight against colds? Pumpkin is full of zinc, which strengthens your immune system and also helps shorten the duration and severity of a cold. You can easily make pumpkin soup or let the seeds of a pumpkin dry and then eat them (with or without skin).
