It’s cold and flu season, and no matter who you are or what you do, you are constantly at risk of contamination (I work from home and rarely see people but I still caught the flu). While it may not be at the top of your list to power through a meal when you are fighting a runny nose or bad cough, eating is a vital part of your healing process when you are sick.
Resting in bed, drinking lots of fluid, and consuming hot home-made meals should of course come first if you are severely sick. If however you are on your feet and out, looking for something to eat, the following foods will guaranteed give you bodily comfort.
Matzo ball soup: heal your white blood cells.
This may seem like an obvious choice; hot broth, chicken, and noodles, but did you know there’s a scientific reason to why we eat chicken based soups when we are sick? Studies have shown that chicken soup specifically is the most effective liquid to aid mucus transport as well as reducing the movement of -and bringing healing to- white blood cells. Healthy white blood cells = healthy body.
Where to get it? Langer’s Deli, Birdie G’s, Brent’s Deli Northridge.
Ramen: fresh garlic cloves a day will keep the doctor away.
Ramen has definitely become a big deal in Los Angeles the last decade, and with so many different varieties you are sure to find one you’ll fall in love with even if you’re not a soup person! The best part of going to a ramen joint when you are sick? You get a bowl of fresh garlic cloves and a garlic presser (if it’s not on your table ask for it). Press nature’s antibiotics straight in to your soup and slurp down that delicious medicine.
Where to get it? Tatsu, Kai Ramen, Ichimian.
Indian food: Spice up your life.
Indian food is packed with nature’s medicine like ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric, and various other spices. If you have the chills and are congested, the spices will warm you up and loosen your mucus.
Where to get it? Badmaash, India’s Oven, India’s Tandoori.
Khao Soi: when you want something creamy, but need to stay away from the dairy.
I don’t know if it’s my Scandinavian upbringing but I am a total sucker for creamy foods. Whether it’s a stew, soup, or dessert, if it’s cream based I am 100 percent opting for it!
There are different theories around dairy and whether it’s good or bad for you, but one thing I know now for sure from experience; dairy ups my mucus levels, and when you’re sick you want to loosen your mucus but not increase it. What’s a delicious substitute for heavy cream? Coconut cream! In what dishes does it truly shine? Curry-based soups and sauces!
Khao Soi is too cool for school, it’s the Danny Zuko of soups, it’s the creme de la creme of hot bowls! If you want comfort food and can afford going on the more heavier side (probably nice to eat towards the END of your cold), opt for Khao Soi.
Where to get it? Khao Soi Thai in Studio City, order it with crab meat.
Pho: Like chicken soup, but with more exotic flavors.
Again with the hot broth! Can’t stress enough how healing this is!! Go light on the noodles, but heavy on the vegetables. Since the herbs and vegetables in pho is added raw to the bowl and only steamed in the hot broth that is poured on to it, the vegetables keep all its nutrients and crunch, and help boost your health. I had a lot of Pho while I was down with the flu and it made me feel like a new person each time I had it.
Where to get it? Ktown Pho, Pho 87, or Asian markets that have a kitchen like Farm Boy.