5 Spices to Boost Your Immunity this Winter

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So Winter is here and all around you people are coughing, sniffling, rummaging around for tissues and complaining about their aching body. Sounds delightful…not! What if there were things you could do to boost your immune system. Things you could add to your meals to make your food not only taste delicious but help keep the winter blues away. Well, there are and I’m here to share them with you.

Here are my top 5 spices that will give your immune system a boost and which people have been using medicinally for centuries.  Just remember to make sure your spices are organic! Herbs and spices imported into Australia can be irradiated or treated with methyl bromide so to avoid these nasties (which may give you a lot more to worry about than a nasty cold) always choose organic.

 

Turmeric

The wonder spice Turmeric contains curcumin which is packed with antioxidant properties. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits making it a great all-rounder. You can add Turmeric to your soups, rice and curries or (if you haven’t already) join the Golden Latte craze by drinking your Winter blues away. Our favourites at Wholesome Hub are Sonnentor’s Turmeric Lattes available in Ginger and Vanilla flavours.

 

Cinnamon

Apple cinnamon muffins, cinnamon donuts, honey cinnamon treats. With so much sweet deliciousness going around, it can be easy to not take cinnamon too seriously but seriously, cinnamon is an amazing healing spice! Anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and blood sugar controller (amongst other things), this spice has been used for centuries and is popular in Ayurvedic medicine so get your cinnamon shaker and start shaking around into your smoothies, cereals, pancakes or add to your savoury warming dishes like curries and stews.

 

Cloves

While many spices are excellent sources of antioxidants, cloves are the superhero of them all ranking as one of the richest sources of antioxidants. Research has shown cloves have at least 36 different compounds with the most important being an essential oil called eugenol. Cloves are also packed with flavonoids, have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and digestive properties. Add to your soups, stews, pasta sauces or try some warming mulled drinks for something different.

 

Garlic

Our resident Naturopath, Karen McElroy is a big fan of garlic and after reading one of her blogs, I definitely learnt a lot. Here’s the garlic low down in 200 words or less. One of the main medicinal agents from garlic is allicin. Allicin is formed when two compounds, alliinase and alliin come together. This happens when garlic is chopped, minced or crushed and is what gives garlic its distinctive smell and flavour. Now the bad news. Allicin is destroyed in cooking! Now the good news. Eating raw garlic is so 2017 and worrying about smelly garlic breath is not. Create some delish dips or add finely grated to your salads. Plus, your gorgeous garlic breath may also encourage your friends with colds and flus to keep their distance which is another great way of avoiding the winter nasties!

 

Ginger

If it came to popularity votes, my money would be on Ginger! From stir frys to healing teas to ice creams and desserts, Ginger is your easy going nice guy, so versatile and reliable. And after more than 2,000 years of use, you can’t go wrong! Ginger can act as an antihistamine as well as a decongestant. Gingerol, Ginger’s main bioactive oil, is a strong antioxidant, it can protect cells against premature damage, has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is also a well known treatment for nausea and upset tummies which anyone that has suffered from sea sickness or morning sickness would know. You can add ginger to your breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh, grated, as a powder or crystallised. See, so versatile and accommodating! You’re the best ging!

If you have some home remedies for beating colds and flus, we’d love to hear from them but remember, all the spices in the world won’t help unless you balance your day out with some good old fashioned healthy organic food, fresh air, exercise and less stress so don’t forget to smile and breathe away!