Forget Pharmaceuticals, Fight off Flus and Colds with these Soothing Drinks

 This blog series is sponsored by Tribe Organic  Restaurant, Beijing's newest option for fresh, healthy,      organic and vegetarian-friendly dining. 

From fiery fevers to the bitterest of chills, there are few aspects of flu season that aren’t downright dreadful. The season’s one saving grace may very well come in a glass, and the whole ordeal can be avoided entirely if we pour the right ingredients inside. 

At least that’s the philosophy that Brandon Trowbridge employs as he endures the sniffles and ailments of winter. The chef at Tribe (a healthy eaters on Gongti Donglu), says pharmaceuticals aren’t the answer to colds and flus. Instead, he finds homemade, nutritious, fruit and veggie drinks to be infinitely more effective. He recommends a trio of such beverages to deal the three key stages of our sickness cycle – prevention, symptoms, recovery. 

Trowbridge’s cold and flu prevention juice features high doses of Vitamin C and zinc, which are both offer massive boosts to one’s immune system. He adds: “This will be a juice with mostly kale, which has a lot of zinc and Vitamin C. Then we’ll add some lemon juice, which also has a lot of Vitamin C, and some apple for sweetness.”

Trowbridge adds that the kale is an especially important ingredient, because its zinc properties are as integral as its Vitamin C, even though the former is often taken for granted. “Zinc is usually overlooked, because Vitamin C is used a lot in the marketing of products. The thing is that Vitamin C is non-soluble, meaning it’ll pass through your system really quickly. So you need to have a high daily intake.”

“That’s why I recommend making a simple juice like this, so that it’ll be easy for you to get a high daily intake of Vitamin C,” he adds.

Employing such a healthy habit will likely help one’s immune system better ward off most cold and flu onslaughts. But even the most robust immune systems won’t always be enough. So, when the prevention juice is not enough, and both fever and nasal congestion begin to set in, Trowbridge recommends a steamier remedy. 

His symptoms and cures beverage features honey and ginger, very common ingredients served in hot water to sick children around the world. Hot water and honey is a natural energy booster, and honey is also rich enough in vitamins and minerals to help someone get on the mend. Ginger can also improve the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body and clear the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

Trowbridge’s twist on the famed “ginger, honey and hot water” remedy includes rosemary and lavender. “They’ll help with aroma therapy,” he says, adding: “When you’re congested and you hold up a cup full of this steaming hot drink, it’s break up the blockage in your nose and in your chest, especially if you breathe deeply.”

Lastly, after all the hacking and sneezing, one can drink Trowbridge’s recovery smoothie to finally feel 100 percent again. “After the flu you’ll be dehydrated, either because you’ve throwing up or because of your lost appetite. So a smoothie with coconut water will help you rehydrate.”

Trowbridge says he adds watercress (for a source of Vitamin C) and an avocado to the smoothie, because it is an anti-inflammatory that “should help soothe your throat, and any pain you have in your chest. It also increases nutrient absorption. I also like to add mango because it has so many vitamins.” He adds that these straightforward recipes, in his mind, are far more effective than even the most modern of medicines. 

Instructions

A – Prevention:
1. Juice a handful of spinach, 1/2 lemon, and one apple.
2. Pour in a glass and enjoy (Trowbridge recommends drinking a glass daily).

B – Symptoms and Cures:
1. Steep one thumb of ginger sliced, 1 teaspoon of lavender, and 1/2 sprig of rosemary for 3-5 minutes. 
2. Pour in a large mug and add honey to taste.  

3. Inhale for nasal congestion and drink for soar throat.

C – Recovery:  
1. In a blender add a handful of watercress, 1/4 avocado, 1/2 mango, 100ml coconut water, and 1/2 cup of ice. 
2. Blend smooth and enjoy.

Click here to find out how to make cold pressed coffee and learn about kombucha here. 

About the author: A ravenous foodie and frequent tbj contributor, Kyle Mullin has been working as a freelance reporter in Beijing since 2011.

Photos: Ken Liu