Sunday, December 30, 2007

Food for the Winter

Everyone knows that the wintery weather brings the common cold and flu. Here are some easy recommendations from the Chinese medicine pantry to help you ward off the nasties' of the season.

Use ginger in your soups, teas, and stir-fries. Aromatic and warming, ginger infusions are particularly good to drink after getting caught in cold, wet weather. Just a few slices of fresh ginger will go a long way.

Use cinnamon in your oatmeal to warm the kidneys and digestive organs on an everyday basis.

Keep carrots around the house. Often called baby ginseng because of their ability to increase qi, they can be used in soups. Combine them with other aromatic vegetables and herbs such as onions, garlic, celery, turnip, and bay leaves, which will open your sinuses.

While not exactly a food, many Chinese herbs have the ability to prevent the common cold. Ginseng and the mushroom called cordyceps can both help prevent the common cold and flu.

Enjoy!!!

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