In the middle of autumn, the cold begins to knock on the door, milder or more annoying, and in Spain we immediately think of grandmother’s remedy: honey and citrus, especially orange and lemon. Undoubtedly excellent food to relieve certain symptoms, but they are not enough to help the immune system deal with the onslaught of a virus. green leaves They also contain benefits in this sense.
Advertising has taught us that vitamin C is the key to fight the cold, hence the immediate mental relationship with citrus but, Is there scientific evidence? As a vitamin, it must be present in our usual diet, although it is true that it isIts ability to prevent colds is not proven. Yes, there are certain indications about the possibility that reduce the time of the cold Always take it before it starts.
The great vitamin contribution of spinach
Among the most nutritious vegetables that stand out At Harvard Medical School, spinach is in the top positions, along with kale, romaine lettuce, watercress and arugula. They all have in common a exceptional combination of vitamins (A, C, K, B, E) and mineralsamong which potassium stands out. According to calculations from the United States Nutrition Database, spinach wins by a landslide in minerals and vitamins to the other vegetables indicated.
The fundamental thing to deal with a cold or flu is that the immune system is in the best possible shape. Consume regularly foods of great nutritional value such as spinach they contribute to it. It is a vegetable that also stands out for its high folate contentvitamin B complex nutrients that the body needs to make red blood cells and stay healthy.
The important thing is the general quality of the diet
At the moment, no determining relationships have been established between the best state of the immune system and the consumption of a certain food. From Harvard they point out that it is not appropriate to focus on a single product What is important is the general quality of the diet. The same can be applied in reverse: products such as sugary drinks or ultra-processed foodsenemies per se of a good general state of health, are also enemies of the immune system.
From the North American university they also remember that the good state of the body It does not depend solely on foodbut you have to look for certain habits that complement that healthy diet: regular exercise; No smoking; get enough sleep and minimize stress, among others.
References
Harvard Medical School (2021, April 19). Salad greens: Getting the most bang for the bite. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/salad-greens-getting-the-most-bang-for-the-bite
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