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Unknown Study to Help You Ward Off Colds and Flu

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There have been a number of studies on the beneficial health effects of hot peppers. One can do a search online and find a wealth of information touting adding hot peppers or cayenne pepper to your diet.

Health Freedom Resources lists five foods that will help boost your immune system and help lessen your chances of catching a cold or the flu. The five foods they list are:

1. Garlic: Contains allicin which helps fight off and kill bacteria and viruses. Helps to stimulate the immune system and ward of colds and flu.

2. Onions: They contain quercetin, which breaks up mucus in your head and chest and helps to boost the immune system. Onions also contain allicin which helps kill some bacteria and viruses and slows down the spread of others. Did you know that when you smell onions and your eyes tear and your nose runs, that it is also stimulating your immune system to fight infections?

3. Ginger: They contain shogaols and gingerols that help stimulate blood circulation and opens your sinuses. Ginger also helps sooth sore throats and helps remove mucus from the chest by making you cough.

4. Horseradish: Horseradish causes the body to heat up and encourages coughing which helps to breakup and expel mucus. It also increases blood flow that helps to flush out infections.

5. Cayenne pepper: Contain capsicum, which is a big source of vitamin C, which is a boost to the immune system. They also contain high amounts of antioxidants and beta carotene, which help boost immune system. They raise body temperature causing someone to sweat and increase immune system activity.

Another website, FitnessMagazine.com, also lists five foods that help fight colds and flu. Their list includes: whole grains, bananas, cayenne peppers, sweet potatoes and garlic.

However, there was one unofficial study about the beneficial effects of hot peppers in helping to prevent colds and flu. You will not find it anywhere on the internet or in any scientific or medical journal. I seriously doubt that it was ever published, but in my opinion, is THE most compelling study ever conducted.

When I was college, one of my classmates, Ben (he was in several of my classes), came from a copper mining town in east-central Arizona. His dad ran a local drug store and was the pharmacist. At the time, the town was small enough that virtually everyone relied on this drug store for many of their needs.

At the time I knew Ben and had the opportunity to meet his dad, I learned of a simple study his dad had been conducting for the past 15-years. Since he knew practically everyone in town, he also knew who was catching colds and the flu and who weren’t. Along with their names and how frequently they got sick, Ben’s dad always asked one question – did they eat hot peppers on a daily basis? He had 15-years of data that showed that the vast majority of people who caught colds and the flu either never ate hot peppers or only had them infrequently. Almost all of the people who rarely or never caught a cold or the flu, ate hot peppers daily. Oh, he checked a number of other factors, but the only single factor that he could point to as making a difference was the daily ingestion of hot peppers. Those who did, rarely got sick and those who didn’t were the ones that regularly got sick.

Take it for what you will, I just thought I would share this unknown study with you and let you make your own decisions. If you do catch colds and get the flu, do you eat hot peppers daily? Think about it.

Eat These Foods to Boost Your Immune System

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Source:  health.clevelandclinic.org

Want to fight off that illness that’s spreading around the office or your child’s school? Aside from practicing good hygiene, boosting your immune system is a great way to start.

Your diet plays a part in strengthening your immune system. Sadly, too many of us don’t eat enough of the fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods we need to keep ourselves healthy year-round. You can’t just eat an orange or grapefruit and expect one quick burst of vitamin C to prevent a cold. A truly healthy immune system depends on a balanced mix of vitamins and minerals over time, plus normal sleep patterns and a hefty dose of exercise.

With some exceptions, it’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from your food rather than in pill form. Here are some tips for getting the top vitamins your immune system needs to perform.

  • Vitamin C

    You probably know about vitamin C’s connection to the immune system, but did you know you can get it from much more than just citrus fruits? Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, strawberries and papaya are also excellent sources. In fact, vitamin C is in so many foods that most people may not need to take supplements unless a doctor advises it.

  • Vitamin E

    Like vitamin C, vitamin E can be a powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight off infection. Almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds are all high in vitamin E. So are spinach and broccoli if you prefer to increase your intake through meals rather than snacks.

  • Vitamin B6

    This important vitamin — part of nearly 200 biochemical reactions in your body — is critical in how your immune system functions. Foods high in vitamin B6 include bananas, lean chicken breast, cold-water fish such as tuna, baked potatoes and chickpeas. Bring on the hummus!

  • Vitamin A

    For vitamin A, go colorful. Foods that are high in colorful compounds called carotenoids — carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe and squash — are all great options. The body turns these carotenoids into vitamin A, and they have an antioxidant effect to help strengthen the immune system against infection.

  • Vitamin D

    As mentioned above, it’s best to get most of your vitamins from food, but vitamin D may be the exception to that rule. You can increase your intake through foods such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines) and fortified foods such as milk, orange juice and cereals. Many people have a hard time absorbing vitamin D from food, so if you have a vitamin D deficiency, talk to your doctor about supplements.

  • Folate/folic acid

    Folate is the natural form, and folic acid is the synthetic form, often added to foods because of its health benefits. To get more folate, add more beans and peas to your plate on a regular basis, as well as leafy green vegetables. You can also get folic acid in fortified foods (check the label) such as enriched breads, pastas, rice and other 100 percent whole-grain products.

  • Iron

    Iron, which helps your body carry oxygen to cells, comes in different forms. Your body can more easily absorb “heme iron,” which is abundant in lean poultry such as chicken and turkey, plus seafood. But never fear, vegetarians: You can get other forms of iron in beans, broccoli and kale.

  • Selenium

    Selenium seems to have a powerful effect on the immune system, including the potential to slow the body’s over-active responses to certain aggressive forms of cancer. You can find it in garlic, broccoli, sardines, tuna, brazil nuts and barley, among other foods.

  • Zinc

    You can find zinc in oysters, crab, lean meats and poultry, baked beans (skip the kind with added sugar), yogurt and chickpeas. Zinc appears to help slow down the immune response and control inflammation in your body.

Bonus Tip: When You Can’t Eat Fresh, Eat Frozen

Depending on where you live and what time of year it is, you can’t always get your hands on high-quality fresh produce. Keep this in mind: Frozen is fine. Manufacturers freeze frozen fruits and veggies at “peak” ripeness, which means they’ll pack a similar nutritional value as their fresh counterparts. Just choose plain frozen foods rather than those with added sugars or sodium.

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