In recent years, respiratory viruses have been ravaging frequently, especially posing a significant threat to the health of middle-aged and elderly people. In the face of viruses like colds and flu, how can we effectively prevent them? The answer may be hidden in our daily diet. Scientific research has found that certain foods have significant antiviral and lung-nourishing effects. Today, I will introduce to you three miraculous foods – pears, garlic, and chrysanthemums. They can not only boost immunity but also effectively improve lung health, helping us better protect ourselves during virus outbreaks.
Pears – a natural remedy for nourishing the lungs and clearing heat
1. Nutritional components and functions of pears
Pears are rich in water and various vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and B vitamins, as well as various minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Pears are high in fiber, which can promote intestinal health and effectively prevent constipation. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, helping to boost immunity and resist virus invasion.
Vitamin C: Enhances immune function, is an antioxidant, and helps the body resist infections.
Potassium: Helps maintain heart health and regulate fluid balance.
Fiber: Promotes digestive system health and prevents constipation.
2. Benefits of pears for the respiratory system
Pears have the effects of nourishing the lungs, clearing heat, and generating body fluids, making them particularly suitable for consumption in the autumn and winter seasons. They can help alleviate the stimulation of the respiratory tract caused by dry climates. Regular consumption of pears can effectively relieve symptoms such as cough and excessive phlegm, and provide auxiliary therapeutic effects for patients with chronic bronchitis.
Alleviating cough: The water and nutrients in pears can soothe the throat and relieve coughing.
Reducing phlegm: The lung-nourishing properties of pears help reduce phlegm and improve breathing.
3. Various ways to consume pears
Eating fresh pears is a simple and effective method. However, pears can also be made into pear soup, pear juice, pear paste, and other various preparations.
Snow pear and tremella soup: Nourishing for the lungs and good for beauty, suitable for autumn and winter.
Pear paste: Provides excellent protection for the throat, especially suitable for patients with long-term cough.
Pear juice: Freshly squeezed pear juice can quickly replenish fluids and nutrients, suitable for summer consumption.
Garlic – the “natural antibiotic” with antibacterial properties
1. Main components of garlic and its antiviral effects
Garlic contains a large amount of allicin, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral substance. Allicin can destroy the cell walls of bacteria and viruses, inhibiting their replication and growth. In addition, garlic also contains selenium and germanium, trace elements that can enhance the body’s immunity and resistance.
Allicin: Antibacterial, antiviral, and destroys the cell walls of pathogens.
Selenium and germanium: Enhance immune system function and help the body resist infections.
2. Health benefits of garlic
Research has shown that regular consumption of garlic can reduce the incidence of colds and flu. It also has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, reducing blood pressure, decreasing the formation of blood clots, and thus preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Preventing colds: Garlic’s antiviral properties effectively reduce the occurrence of colds.
Protecting the cardiovascular system: Lowers blood pressure, prevents atherosclerosis, and blood clot formation.
3. How to correctly consume garlic
To fully utilize the health benefits of garlic, it is recommended to consume 1-2 cloves of raw garlic every day. If you do not like the taste of raw garlic, you can slice it and blanch it in boiling water, or add garlic to cooked dishes. In addition, garlic-soaked liquor and garlic sauce are also good choices.
Eating raw garlic: Consuming it directly yields the best results, but it has a strong taste.
Cooked garlic: Sliced and blanched in water or added to dishes, to retain nutrition and improve taste.
Garlic-soaked liquor: Helps with blood circulation, suitable for consumption in winter.
Chrysanthemums – a good remedy for clearing heat and detoxifying
1. Components of chrysanthemums and their health benefits
Chrysanthemums contain rich flavonoids, amino acids, volatile oils, and various vitamins. They have various effects such as clearing heat and detoxification, dispersing wind and heat, brightening the eyes, and detoxifying, etc. Chrysanthemum tea is a common health tea for middle-aged and elderly people, which helps relieve eye fatigue and lower blood pressure.
Flavonoids: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protect cell health.
Vitamins and amino acids: Promote body health and enhance immune function.
2. Chrysanthemums’ protection for the respiratory tract
Chrysanthemums can clear lung heat, providing good relief for cough due to lung heat. The flavonoids in chrysanthemums have anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects, effectively preventing respiratory infections.
Clearing lung heat: Alleviates cough caused by lung heat, improving respiratory health.
Antiviral: Flavonoids can inhibit virus activity, preventing infection.
3. Ways to consume chrysanthemums
The most common way is to brew chrysanthemum tea, which is simple and convenient. Put dried chrysanthemum flowers into a cup, pour hot water, and drink when the temperature is suitable. If you want to enhance the flavor, you can add some wolfberries or honey. Additionally, chrysanthemums can also be used in cooking, such as chrysanthemum congee, chrysanthemum pudding, etc.
Chrysanthemum tea: Clears heat and detoxifies, simple and convenient for daily consumption.
Chrysanthemum congee: Nourishes the lungs and stomach, suitable for breakfast consumption.
Chrysanthemum pudding: Cools and relieves heat, suitable for summer consumption.
Pears, garlic, and chrysanthemums, these three foods are not only easy to obtain, affordable, but also rich in nutrients, with significant effects on preventing viral infections. By making good use of these three foods in daily diet, you can effectively enhance your body’s immunity and protect the health of your respiratory system. Hope that through proper dietary adjustments, everyone can better deal with various virus threats and maintain a healthy body.
