The arrival of cold brings with it the typical winter disturbances. Not everyone is affected in the same way as the thermal shock, but those who accuse him are more likely to encounter cold, cough and fever than others.

The organism has its own capacity for self-healing which leads it to naturally resolve symptoms, including those that occur in the winter period. It is therefore important not to "suppress" the symptom with a pharmacological therapy, unless it is strictly necessary, but rather to accompany the body towards a more spontaneous and natural healing. The foods we eat at this stage are very relevant.

Pro-inflammatory foods such as refined sugar, milk and dairy products, red meat and ready-to-eat foods should be avoided, preferring whole grains, legumes, seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Fever is one of the body's main defense mechanisms and is not a disease but a symptom. Here are two simple preparations that come to our aid:

• Herbal tea with garlic and lemon : a whole organic lemon is placed in a saucepan together with a clove of unpeeled organic garlic. They cover with water, are brought to the boil and left to boil for 7 minutes. Drink the herbal tea obtained, warm or cold, without sugaring. This herbal tea uses the combined action of garlic and lemon. Garlic has a strong antibacterial action thanks to its allicin and allyl sulfide content. Lemon, in addition to vitamins, mineral salts and trace elements, in its zest is rich in essential oils: limonene, camphene, fellandrene, pinene and terpene with marked antibiotic, antiviral, antiseptic and balsamic activity. Excellent in case of fever and cooling syndromes, it can be drunk every four hours in case of acute symptoms, while for preventive purposes once a day for three days.

• Garlic minestrina : crush a whole clove of garlic and fry in extra virgin olive oil. When it becomes golden, add water, keeping the heat to a maximum and cook 50g of pasta. When cooked, add parsley, chilli pepper and a tablespoon of Parmesan cheese. This soup has an antibacterial and antiviral action and uses, in addition to the properties of garlic, those of the other ingredients. The chili contains capsaicin, which is responsible for the spicy taste and the anti-inflammatory and decongestant action.

Discover also the properties and benefits of garlic essential oil

Parsley contains iron, calcium and vit. C along with essential oils, carotenoids and flavonoids. Parmesan is rich in mineral salts.

Its use is not recommended for people with kidney damage due to chili peppers and those suffering from respiratory allergies or asthma for Parmesan.

Cough is also a symptom.

• Decoction of dried figs : 5 dried figs are boiled in a cup of cold water for 7-8 minutes and drunk warm. It has a mucolytic and sedative action of the cough, fluidizes the phlegm and induces sleep. The fluidifying action of dried figs is due to their mucilage content. They are also rich in iron and mineral salts, useful for replenishing tired and dehydrated individuals.

• Chamomile, Lemon and Honey herbal tea: the contents of a sachet of chamomile and the peel of a whole lemon are boiled in 250ml of water for ten minutes. Filter the decoction and add a tablespoon of honey, preferably organic. Chamomile has an anti-inflammatory action thanks to its azulene content, together with the antispastic action of apigenin and the sedative action of flavonoids. Honey is a complex food, its components include sugars, acids (gluconic, citric, malic, lactic, butyric), mineral salts, vitamins, tannins, enzymes and flower aromas. It also contains propolis with a known bactericidal and bacteriostatic action, the only limit of which is its remarkable allergenic capacity. Relieves irritation of the throat and is restorative and anti-anemic. The herbal tea can be used as a normal syrup for all types of cough.

Among the food preparations does not appear the classic " hot milk ", a useful remedy for our grandmothers when it was freshly squeezed, but not today.

In fact, we find the milk on the market with nutritional properties different from those it presents at the origin due to the transformations undergone in the food industry and the irritating effect of its proteins: caseins.

The advantage of the aforementioned remedies is to have an immediate effect and not to present particular contraindications. We begin to benefit from food even for small winter disturbances!