Simple Holistic Cold & Flu Remedies
Plus recipes for my get-better-faster garlic herb toast and Ayurvedic turmeric maple paste.
Well hello everyone!
My entire family - including me - was under the weather a few weeks back (not COVID, we tested many times). Pretty sure it was just a general crappy cold, and thankfully we’re all feeling back to normal now.
When I get sick (with garden variety stuff, not cancer, ha!), I rely on a few simple remedies and self-care practices to bolster my immunity and get me feeling better ASAP. Thankfully, it’s nothing complicated or expensive,
First, the obvious: good sleep, lots of fruits and vegetables, tons of water and Vitamin C. Being well rested and hydrated, and eating an anti-inflammatory diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables are the foundations of good health. If these things aren’t in place, it’s a much longer road to feeling like my normal self.
To feel better even faster, I love making fresh garlic toast; it’s not for the faint of heart, as raw garlic is pretty potent stuff (I personally love it) ! Garlic has strong antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties, but the key is to mince your garlic and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before using, which activates allicin, the enzyme responsible for most of garlic’s healing properties. It’s not even really a recipe, but here’s how you make it:
Fresh Garlic Toast
1 large slice of bread, toasted (I love sourdough)
Mince 3-4 large cloves of garlic, let sit for 15-20 minutes. In a small bowl or ramekin, add garlic and combine with 1-2 tsp of olive oil, along with your seasonings of choice (I love salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and some fresh or dried herbs, like parsley and basil). Spread the garlic oil mixture onto the toast and enjoy.
I am also into Ayurvedic home remedies when I’m under the weather, including tons of warming teas when I’m battling a cold - I pretty much sip all day long, and usually stick to Tulsi (loose leaf or bagged), a detox tea (these two are favorites), or a simple ginger lemon tea (peeled/sliced fresh ginger and fresh lemon juice steeped in near boiling water).
I’ve been loving creating my own vegan version of “turmeric honey”, another popular Ayurvedic recipe that can help speed along the healing process when you’re sick. I don’t eat honey, so instead I’ve swapped in pure maple syrup. Maple syrup is packed with antioxidants, and turmeric has many magical health properties, so when you combine them, they make a wonderful home remedy that can be eaten alone by the spoonful, or dissolved into hot tea throughout the day. I’ve also added cinnamon, since it really elevates the flavor and also helps to clear congestion and mucus.
Ayurvedic Healing Turmeric Maple Paste
2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch ground black pepper
In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients until a well-combined paste forms. Keep in a small container with a tightly fitted lid in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 weeks.
You can also turn the turmeric paste into a healing “shot” by combining 1 Tbsp of the paste with 2 Tbsp each fresh lemon juice and water.
Last, I always swear by hot baths, especially when you are dealing with congestion or stuffiness. I recently mentioned my favorite bath product on Instagram, the Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath (not sponsored or an affiliate, just a huge fan) - the eucalyptus/wintergreen/rosemary scent is heaven when you’re not feeling well, and it helps promote rest and relaxation, as well as detoxification. I use it even when I’m healthy, but it’s especially nice when I’m not at my best.
A little bit of what I’ve been up to lately:
What I’m Reading:
I’ve been doing so much reading lately, which makes my heart sing. I’m really enjoying The Golden Couple (a page turner that I can’t put down) and all of Jen Sincero’s “Badass” books (the titles are cheesy but the content is gold…I swear they are changing my life!)
What I’m Watching:
I’m totally late to the party but I just started the first season of Euphoria not long ago, and now we are already halfway through Season 2. It’s just so good, the kind of show/characters that you think about even when you’re not watching.
What I’m Cooking:
I made the Gochujang Sesame Noodles from Bon Appetit and they were a major hit. Will def be adding to the rotation. I didn’t have Gochujang though so I subbed in a Thai chili curry paste that I had on hand, and it worked, but would love to make this as-written ASAP.
What I’m Coveting:
How cute are these meal planners from Papier? I want!