Be Resourceful: Stock Your Pantry with Superfoods

It’s that time of year again, and along with holiday cheer and comes cold and flu season too. The good news is, many of the holiday activities are centered around food and eating well can help you prevent and treat illness. Since I have been nursing a cold this week with yoga and vegetables, it seems appropriate to share some natural remedies.


In the next couple of weeks, while you are stocking up on ingredients for the special recipes you are planning, consider including some extra preventative food “medicine” and a few soothing “treatments” to your list. Think of your pantry as a natural medicine cabinet, for both preventing and treating those nasty little viruses that are floating around. It is important to remember vitamins and minerals come from whole foods. When you get nutrients from eating instead of taking supplements, powders, and fortified processed foods, your body can process them more effectively.




Of course you can’t always prevent and treat sickness without a visit to the doctor, but there are many little tricks to keep you healthier during the cold season. Healthy foods are filled with vitamins, minerals and immunity boosters.


I use the following items all times of the year, but they are especially helpful to keep on hand now. As always, buy as much as you can organic and from local sources.


Honey- natural cough suppressant.
Cinnamon- can reduce blood sugar levels, cholesterol, contains antioxidant properties, aids digestion, can help treat diarrhea, helps the body get over common colds.
Apple Cider Vinegar -contains lots of bacteria fighting agents, strengthens immune system, helps to reduce symptoms of sinus infection and sore throats.
Lemons- very good for digestion. Drink with hot water early in the day. Stimulates liver to produce bile for food digestion, helps to relieve constipation, asthma, sore throat and tonsillitis.
Green Tea- has various health benefits including antioxidant.
Ginger Tea- helps stimulate digestion, settle upset stomach.
Ginger Root- Ask at your local market if you don’t know what it looks like. You can juice it or make your own tea. Great for cold and flu prevention and treatment. It works wonders to promote digestion and settle an upset stomach.
Dried goji berries- Antioxidants, vitamin a immune function.
Dried mulberries- Insanely rich in Vitamin C. Stays well preserved without refrigeration.
Garlic-high Vitamin C, incredible health benefits from antibacterial properties, cancer preventing compounds.
Guava/Lichi juice- Buy it natural and with no added sugar. Both are very high in Vitamin C and there are brands that don’t require refrigeration until you open. The only downside is that this time of year they aren’t available locally. Orange and grapefruit juice are great sources for Vitamin C as well, especially if you live in an area where you can get citrus fruit and juice it at home.


Always keep a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit on hand. For example, I love broccoli and it is another incredible source of Vitamin c and lots of other vitamins and minerals.


Check out the links included to get more information about each of these superfoods and their benefits. Stay healthy!