Now that we are all staying home and may have more time to focus on nutrition and wellness, I have a few simple suggestions to add:
1. Focus on warm, cooked foods and warm beverages rather than cold, raw food or cold beverages. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cold foods require extra energy to warm up so that they can then be digested. This can have a negative effect on digestion and can also effect the immune system’s ability to fight infection. This is especially important during Colorado’s springtime which is often cold, rainy, windy or snowy. Try to sip on warm beverages throughout the day as COVID-19 often starts replicating in the throat and you can wash the virus down into the stomach where it will be destroyed by gastric juices.
2. Include ginger and cinnamon in your food or drink teas made from those spices. Ginger and cinnamon are included in most of the TCM herbal formulas that are being given to COVID-19 patients in China. The herbs are known to be warming and aid in circulation. They are both anti-inflammatory and cinnamon is antioxidant as well. Not to mention tasty too!
3. Experiment with cooking more of your own food. This is a great time to get back to a simpler and more self-sufficient lifestyle. The grocery stores may not have all of the items that you normally buy. Get creative and buy some new ingredients, especially fruits and vegetables. Tackle a new recipe or make items from scratch that you would normally buy such as pasta or enchilada sauces. Let me know if you have any great recipes to pass along!