During these unprecedented times - you know, with a pandemic raging and cases on the rise - it’s more important than ever that we keep our bodies and minds in tip-top shape. A healthy immune system not only helps you keep on track with daily tasks, but also helps ward off colds, flu, and the like when they’re out and about.
So how can you start supporting your immune system with what you cook in your non-stick pan, skillet pan, saucepan, or whichever pot or pan that tickles your fancy?
It’s a well-known belief that consuming more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein is the easiest way to keep your immunity going strong while foods rich in probiotics (kimchi, yoghurt, tempeh, kombucha, sourdough - we’re looking at you!) help to improve your gut health. It’s been proven time and time again that prebiotic-rich food such as garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and oats, and polyphenol-rich food like nuts, berries, herbs, and spices are contributing factors to great health (plus they’ve also been proven to treat your skin gooood).
Even though the saying “you are what you eat” may be true in some cases, there are other ways to boost your immune system other than by just consuming nutritious food. Staying hydrated, exercising daily (even if just a few minutes), and making sure you’re getting plenty of ZZZs are three other ways to keep your body and mind healthy and working their best.
But don’t worry, that’s a blog post for another day. Time to get back to the FOOD. Here’s our list of 5 delicious, immune-boosting recipes to promote a healthy immune system while keeping you ready to take on the world!
1. Carrot-Ginger Soup
Image: Sarah Gold Anzlovar
Oooh, that feeling of having a hot bowl of soup placed in front of you on a cold and chilly night.. This nutrition-dense recipe calls for a lot of carrots, known for being rich in Vitamin A - an important vitamin for immunity, gut-healthy onions, the gorgeous colour-boosting turmeric, and flavourful and anti-inflammatory ginger.
2. Hearty Lentil Tomato Soup
Soup - the ultimate comfort food and grandma’s cure to all fevers and colds. Hard to get wrong and hard to say no to when you get it right. Add in some lentils, and you have a flavour bomb waiting to happen. Low in fat, nutrient-dense, and affordable, polyphenol-rich lentils are not only delicious but also contain a high dose of iron and protein. So far, so good right?
3. Japanese Vegetable Curry
Now, who doesn’t love curry? This simple recipe is packed with a tonne of polyphenol-rich vegetables including potatoes, carrots, onions, and ginger. Opt for a less starchy curry by substituting the listed vegetables with spinach, broccoli, okra, or tomatoes.
4. Kale Pesto Pasta
Image: Weelicious
When you come home late and are tired from work, the last thing you want to do is cook a complicated dinner. Here comes pesto to the rescue! Kale and other greens such as spinach and Swiss chard are packed with antioxidants, folate, and Vitamin C, meaning they're about to pack a punch on your tastebuds AND immune system. Add that to walnuts, lemon, garlic, cheese, and pasta and your nutritious dinner is served.
5. Pan-Roasted Tomato & Garlic Sauce
This simple recipe combines two great immunity-boosting ingredients, tomato and garlic, to create a flavourful and nutrient-dense sauce for your favourite pasta. The juicy and rich tomato contains a high concentration of vitamin C, making it a great option to eat when you’re down with the flu. Garlic on the other hand contains two nutritious compounds, allicin and alliinase that help to boost the immune system. Two of our favourite things - tastes good and does good at the same time!
One thing to keep in mind before you start cooking is the type of cookware you’re going to use! And yes, we will say it loud and clear! The cookware you use is just as important as the food you choose to cook. Did you know that some Teflon non-toxic cookware were found to contain PFOA and PTFE, two highly toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health issues? This scary news disrupted the whole non-toxic movement years ago, making people wary of the cookware they buy and decide to use.
Ceramic cookware is known as a great substitute for non-toxic cookware as it’s completely inert - meaning no harmful toxins are leached out during the cooking process. Not only that, ceramic pans are usually free of heavy metals, polymers, coatings, and dyes, and are most often dishwasher-safe too. Safe + convenient = happy cook! The bottom line is a diet rich in nutritious and immune-boosting food will ensure your body works and performs the way it should. On top of trying out these recipes, don’t forget to smile, reduce stress as much as possible, and enjoy every cooking moment in the kitchen with healthy cookware.
Curious about Cosmic Cookware? Shop our non-toxic and chemical-free cookware now!
