With the holiday season in full swing, get togethers commencing and traveling taking place, the chances of getting sick can increase. So now is a good time to improve your overall lung health.
As last week’s post recommended, there are several things you can do to help. And one of those recommendations was food therapy. This post will give you a tasty treat that can help improve your lung health and boost your immune system too.
Right now, in most places, the weather is dry and windy, which contributes to dry skin, chapped lips and coughs flaring up. This makes it even more important to consume foods that generate bodily fluids, promote warmth and circulation and help us feel grounded.
One of the best seasonal foods that generates fluids to combat dryness is the pear. Pears moisten dry skin, relieve dry coughs and help eliminate excess mucus from the lungs. Pears are also great at clearing heat in the body, soothing sore throats, promoting bowel movements and soothing an inflamed / irritated gut.
From a Western medicine perspective, pears are anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic (won’t spike your blood sugar) and act as a diuretic. Pears are rich in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, copper and potassium. All of these nutrients play a role in building the immune system, protecting against ulcers and aiding with cholesterol and alcohol metabolism. Pears are also a great source of antioxidants.
Here’s an easy recipe to help improve your overall lung health, baked pears. This recipe will serve 4, but you can adjust as needed if there are more people to serve. This tasty treat can be enjoyed all season long. Give it a try.
Recipe
4 pears
4 tsp honey
4 cm of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
orange zest
cinnamon, to taste
** top with walnuts or pecans ** (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Halve the pears, removing the core, placing cut side up on a baking dish
3. Add orange zest, cinnamon and honey to all pears
4. Bake for 60-75 minutes or until the pears are knife-glide tender
5. Add nuts 5-10 minutes before the dish is done (optional)