The famous physician Hippocrates once said, "Make food into medicine, and medicine becomes food."
The truth is that food can do more than just provide energy.
And when you're sick, taking the right foods is more important than ever.
Some foods have a high nutritional content, which can support the body against disease
These foods help relieve symptoms and even heal faster.
Here are the 15 best foods to use when you're sick.
1. Chicken soup
Hundreds of years ago, chicken soup was seen as a good remedy for common colds .
Chicken soup is an easy-to-eat, high-quality source of vitamins, minerals, calories and protein, a nutritional compound that the body needs when sick .
Chicken soup also provides excellent water and electrolytes, both needed for hydration, making it easier for the body to excrete.
Our bodies need a lot of water when they have a fever .
Furthermore, one study found that chicken soup is more effective at clearing mucus in the nose than any other known liquid food.
This means chicken soup is a natural medicine, partly because it is used hot .
Another reason for this effect is in chickens that contain amino acids cysteine. N-acetyl-cysteine, a form of cysteine, helps break down mucus and has antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects .
Chicken soup also helps to inhibit neutrophil activity, which is the cause of symptoms such as cough and nasal congestion.
Chicken soup helps to inhibit these harmful cells, which is part of the reason why it is effective against some symptoms like colds and flu .
Conclude: Chicken soup is a good liquid food, high in calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. It is also a natural medicine, which prevents cells from causing cough and nasal congestion.
2. The soup
Similar to chicken soup, soup is a great source of water when you are sick.
The soup has many types and flavors, it contains lots of calories, vitamins and minerals like magnesium, calcium, folate and phosphorus .
Soup also has many benefits when used hot, which is considered a natural remedy due to its heat .
Drinking broth is an effective method to keep your body hydrated, soup made with a variety of flavors will make people happy. In addition, soup is especially useful if your stomach is unstable and cannot eat solid foods.
If you are a person who does not like to use salt, when buying soup prepared from the store, make sure to buy a low-density sodium. Because most types of processing plants have very high salt content.
If you add ingredients when cooking soup, it will bring more benefits - such as calories, protein and nutrients will be higher.
Many people believe that bone broth has many benefits and therapeutic benefits, but there is no genuine study on this .
Refer to this article for more information on bone broth.
Conclude: Soup is a delicious and nutritious dish, which helps to store water for the body, it is also considered a cure when used hot.
3. Garlic
Garlic has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries and has been shown to have antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-fungal effects .
It also stimulates the immune system .
There are quite a few high quality studies that discover the benefits of garlic for common diseases like colds and flu, but some give very good results.
One study found that people who ate garlic often had fewer illnesses. In general, the garlic group had 70% less sick days than the placebo group .
In another study, people who used garlic were not only less ill, they recovered 3.5 times faster than the placebo group (on average). ).
In addition, a few studies show that long soaked garlic extract can increase immune function and reduce the severity of colds and flu .
Add garlic to chicken soup or soup, both increase flavor, and help them be more effective against cold or flu symptoms.
Conclude: Garlic works against bacteria, viruses and stimulates the immune system. It helps you avoid illness and recover faster when you are sick.
4. Coconut water
Providing water to the body is especially important when you have a fever, sweating or vomiting, diarrhea, which can cause you to lose lots of water and electrolytes.
Coconut water is the perfect drink to use when you're sick.
In addition to the delicious sweet taste, coconut water contains glucose and electrolytes necessary to help rehydrate the body.
Many studies show that coconut water helps to provide water lost after exercise and mild cases of diarrhea. It also does not cause much stomach discomfort like other drinks .
In addition, some animal studies have shown that coconut water contains antioxidants that help fight oxidation as well as better control blood sugar .
However, research has shown that coconut water causes more bloating than other electrolyte drinks. Drink slowly if you have never used coconut water before .
Conclude: Coconut water tastes sweet and delicious. It provides the water and electrolytes you need while you're sick.
5. Hot tea
Like chicken soup, hot tea acts as a natural medicine, helping to clear mucus in the sinuses. Note that tea should always be in a hot state to act as a remedy, but not too hot will affect the palate well .
You do not need to worry about the tea will dehydrate. Although some teas contain caffeine, they are too small to make Water is lost .
Sipping tea every day is a great way to retain the amount of water in your body as well as reduce congestion in your sinuses at the same time.
In tea also contains polyphenols, which are natural substances found in plants, have many health benefits. Includes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer agents .
Tannin is a type of polyphenol found in tea. In addition to acting as an antioxidant, tannins also have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties .
A study on mice showed that tannic acid in black tea may reduce the amount of common bacteria growing in the throat .
In another study, Hibiscus tea reduced the growth of avian influenza in vitro. Echinacea tea also reduces the duration of colds and flu .
In addition, some teas have special effects, relieve cough or sore throat, have been shown to be effective in clinical studies .
All these uses make tea an important part of your diet when you are sick.
Conclude: Tea is a good source of water for the body and acts as a natural remedy when used hot. Black tea has the effect of reducing the growth of the bacteria in the palate, echinacea tea helps reduce the time of colds or flu.
6. Honey
Honey has strong antibacterial effect, due to high antibiotic content.
In fact, honey has a powerful antibacterial effect, used to bandage wounds from ancient Egypt until today .
Some evidence suggests that honey also stimulates the immune system .
These uses make honey a great food to use when you're sick, especially if you have a sore throat caused by an infection.
Studies show that honey helps prevent coughing in children. However, remember that honey should not be used for children under 12 months of age .
Mix about half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of honey with a glass of warm milk, water or a cup of tea. It works to provide water, soothe cough and antibacterial .
Conclude: Honey has an antibacterial effect and stimulates the immune system. In addition, it helps reduce coughing in children over 12 months old.
7. Ginger
Ginger The best known for its anti-nausea effects.
Ginger has also been shown to reduce pregnancy-related nausea and cancer treatment .
In addition, ginger has the same effect as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In ginger has also been shown to contain antioxidants, antibiotics and anti-cancer .
Therefore, when you feel nausea or vomiting, ginger is the best food to help reduce the above symptoms. In addition, ginger has many other effects that make it one of the top foods to use when sick.
Use fresh ginger in cooking, make ginger tea or buy ginger soda from the store to get the best effect. Make sure the foods you eat contain real ginger or ginger extract, not just ginger flavor.
Conclude: Ginger is very effective in reducing nausea. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
8. Spicy dishes
In high concentrations, capsaici has a sensitizing effect, often used as a topical gel or pain reliever .
Many people believe that eating spicy foods can cause runny nose, dissolve mucus in the nose and sinuses.
Although quite a few studies have demonstrated this, capsaicin seems to work to dissolve mucus, making it easy to spray. Capsaicin nasal spray products are used to reduce nasal congestion and itchy nose .
However, capsaicin also stimulates manufacturing mucus, so this is not the best method .
Cough treatment is another effect of capsaicin. One study found that capsaicin tablets improved symptoms in people with chronic cough by making them less sensitive to irritation .
However, to achieve this result, you may need to eat spicy food for several weeks.
Also, do not try to use spicy foods if you feel uncomfortable in your stomach. Spicy foods can cause flatulence, pain and nausea in some people .
Conclude: Spicy foods contain capsaicin, which dissolves mucus, but it also stimulates mucus production. In addition, spicy foods are effective in relieving cough due to irritation.
9. Banana
Banana is a great food to use when you're sick.
Bananas are light and easy to eat, they also provide high calorie and rich nutrients.
For these reasons, bananas are a food in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, toast) that are often used to combat nausea .
Another benefit of bananas is their soluble fiber. If you have diarrhea, bananas are one of the best foods you should take because it contains fiber to help reduce diarrhea .
In fact, some hospitals use banana starch to treat diarrhea .
Conclude: Bananas are good foods and energy sources. It also helps to reduce nausea and diarrhea.
10. Oatmeal
Oatmeal also contains some proteins - about 5 grams per half bowl .
Oatmeal also has some health benefits, including stimulating the immune system and improving blood sugar control .
A study in mice showed beta-glucan, a fiber found in oats, helps reduce intestinal inflammation. This helps relieve symptoms such as intestinal spasms, bloating and diarrhea .
However, it is advisable to avoid buying artificial oatmeal with many sugar additive . Instead, add some honey or fruit to get more effect.
Conclude: Oatmeal contains a good source of nutrition and is easy to eat. It helps stimulate your immune system, improves blood sugar control and reduces inflammation in the digestive system.
11. Yogurt
Each cup of yogurt provides 150 calories and 8 grams of protein. It also helps soothe your throat when used cold.
Yogurt is also very rich in calcium full of vitamins and many other minerals .
Some types of yogurt also contain probiotics.
Many evidence shows probiotic works to help children and adults with fewer colds, get better faster and use less antibiotics .
One study showed that children who took probiotic more quickly than average 2 days, symptoms of the disease were less serious than 55% .
Some people argue that the daily milk serving increases mucus. However, some studies show that dairy diets do not cause coughing, obstruction or mucus production, even for those who are sick .
However, if you are allergic to dairy products, try other fermented foods that contain probiotics or probiotic supplements instead.
Conclude: Yogurt is very easy to eat, it contains a very good amount of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals. Some yogurts contain probiotics, which help you get less infection and recover faster.
12. Types of fruits
Fruits have many benefits when you are sick.
Fruit is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber to support the body's immune system .
Some fruits contain useful compounds called anthocyanins, which are fruit coloring agents such as red, blue and purple. Some fruits can be mentioned as Strawberry , cranberry, blueberry and fruity .
Anthocyanin makes these fruits have a lot of therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-virus and boosting the immune system.
Some studies show that fruit extracts contain high levels of anthocyanins, which interfere with viral and bacterial attachment to cells. They also stimulate the body's immune reactions .
Special, Pomegranate Has a strong antibacterial and antiviral effect, which helps to prevent food-borne bacteria and viruses, including E. coli and salmonella .
Although these effects may not have the same effect on an infected body as in experiments, they seem to have some effect.
In fact, a review found that flavonoid supplements can help recover colds by 40% faster .
Add some fruit to the bowl of oat or yogurt to enhance the additional benefits. Frozen fruit can be processed into a smoothie to ease a sore throat.
Conclude: Many fruits containing anthocyanin help fight viruses and bacteria as well as stimulate the immune system. Additional flavonoids also have many benefits.
13. Avocado
Specifically, butter contains high levels of healthy unsaturated fats, along with the characteristics of fats found in olive oil.
Avocado is also a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals .
Butter is a great food to use when sick because they provide the calories, vitamins and minerals your body needs. Butter is also quite soft, light and easy to eat.
Butter contains healthy fats, especially oleic acid, which work to reduce inflammation, and also play a role in immune system function .
Conclude: Butter contains a full range of healthy vitamins, minerals and fats that help reduce inflammation and stimulate the immune system.
14. Green vegetables
Green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and Cos Kale Full supply of vitamins, minerals and fiber. They specifically provide sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate .
Dark green vegetables also contain beneficial plant compounds. They act as antioxidants to protect cells from damage and help fight inflammation .
Green vegetables are also believed to be due to their antibacterial properties .
Add spinach to fried eggs for a nutritious snack and rich in protein . You can also put some kale into fruit juice.
Conclude: Green vegetables contain lots of fiber and essential nutrients for your body when you're sick. They also contain beneficial plant compounds.
15. Salmon
Salmon is soft, easy to eat and contains high quality protein that the body needs.
Salmon is especially rich in fatty acids omega-3 , has a strong anti-inflammatory effect .
Salmon is also a food that provides many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D - a vitamin that many people lack. Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system function .
Conclude: Salmon is an excellent source of protein. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, anti-inflammatory and boosts immune system function.
Main message
Resting, drinking plenty of water and absorbing essential nutrients is one of the important things you need to do to help your body feel better and recover faster when you are sick.
Some foods have many other benefits than just providing nutrients to your body.
Although no foods can cure the disease completely, using the right foods will support the body's immune system and thereby help reduce certain symptoms.
