Fighting the Common Cold

This weekend I have been battling the common cold that just doesn't seem to ever go away in winter. Boring I know! You know the feeling achy body, dry itchy throat that makes you cough all night long. A few years back I would be straight down to the quack to get loaded up on antibiotics but these days I prefer to eat my way back to good health. Here are my top tips to keep your immune system ship shape get you through the stormy weather without nasty antibiotics:

LEMONS: Lemons are fantastic for alkalising your body. Bacteria and viruses thrive in acid environments that can occur from poor diet high in animal products, sugar and alcohol. Acidity can weaken your immune system and provide the type of environment that the nasties love. Lemon juice and other alkalisers such as Kombucha Tea can restore the body's natural PH levels and support healthy bacteria rather than the viruses or harmful bacterias. Juice of one lemon in some room temperature pure water, half an hour before food is great first thing in the morning to wake up the liver and alkalise the body. Lemon ginger honey tea is nice soothing hot drink at night before bed. Manuka honey is also a natural antibiotic and ginger is known to be a great anti- inflammatory.

PUMPKIN SEEDS - High in Zinc the most critical nutrient to boost your immune system. I "sun-fry" my pumpkin seeds by just cleaning seeds from organic pumpkins and adding a little himilayan crystal salt and dry them out in my kitchen window from the natural power of the sun.

BRAZIL NUTS: Brazil nuts are the number one source of selenium, an antioxidant that helps the immune system rejuvinate and kill off germs and protect cells from free radical change. Try making some Brazil nut mylk - it's delicious!

BEANS, KIDNEY, CHICKPEAS, WHITE BEANS: You need about 100g of protein twice a day to get the nutrients essential for a strong immune system.

GARLIC: Especially raw is great cure all an edible antibiotic that fights virus - excellent to add finely grated and raw to comforting soups.

KALE: A powerful detoxer and antioxidant, high in fibre packed with nutrients and helps fight fat!

Try this great flu fighter soup.

KALE AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

2 TBL Rice Bran Oil
1/2 Brown Onion Chopped
1 cup peeled and chopped carrots
2 stalks celery chopped
1/2 cup cubed potatoes
2 tbl tomato paste
6 cups water
2 tbl white miso
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp himalayan crystal salt
2 cups chopped kale stalks removed
400g can white organic beans drained
1/4 tsp thyme
2 tblsp fresh chopped basil
2 cloves finely grated raw garlic


1.Heat Oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
2.Add onion and saute until golden brown (4 minutes).
3.Add carrots, celery, potatoes and tomato paste and saute until well combined.
4.Add water, miso, cumin, coriander and saltand bring to boil.
5.Lower heat and simmer for 30 mins.
6.Add kale, white beans and thyme and simmer another half hour.
7.Add raw garlic before serving
8.Garnish with fresh basil and ground black pepper