By Mary Tucker

Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever. Doctors and scientific researchers question the validity of this statement. They tell that one of the ways to cure a cold is by not getting one. How can we keep from getting a cold? By eating certain foods.

We all know that eating lots of fruit, drinking orange juice, using onions, garlic, leeks, and herbs in cooking and salads keep colds away. Other foods that help prevent colds are cruciform vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussell sprouts, bok choy, kale, leafy green vegetables, spinach, collards, Swiss chard, mustard and turnip greens, asparagus, and okra. These foods contain beta carotene, vitamin C, calcium and folate. Folate, vitamin B9, is found in orange colored vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, pumpkins. They are also a good source of vitamin C. Shitake mushrooms help one’s immune response by boosting the production of white cells, removing toxins and increasing cellular metabolism. Having three servings of whole grains per day also helps keep colds away. Wheat, oats, quinoa and rice can be cooked for breakfast or used in cereal or breads. With chicken stock as a base, make soups using these ingredients; add dried beans or peas to make a hearty soup for lunch or dinner. What a tasty and easy way to keep colds away with winter coming on.~