Spice Up Your Immune System

As winter approaches and the cold and flu season begins we look for ways to strengthen our immune systems to enable us to fight off common infections. At times like this we often look to stock up our medicine cabinets but should we be looking to our spice drawers instead. Spices have been used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for centuries and the use of garlic for medicinal purposes dates back to Sanskrit records from 5000 years ago. 

Modern research has linked garlic intake with keeping blood vessels flexible to help keep our hearts healthy and studies have also suggested that eating garlic may reduce cholesterol. Garlic is also known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties and has also been shown to stimulate the immune system’s ability to reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. 

Rich in the sulphur-containing compound allicin, garlic has powerful anti bacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties and there are lots of ways you can incorporate garlic in your diet to help boost your immune system and keep your heart healthy.

Garlic is a key ingredient In traditional Indian cooking but I also love it roasted and use it in a variety of marinades. Another easy and tasty way to enjoy garlic especially if you’re not too keen on the taste is in homemade houmous.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe that you can try at home:

Ingredients:

• 400g tin chickpeas, drained 
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3-4 tbsp tahini 
• ½ lemon, juiced
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• extra virgin olive oil
• paprika (optional)

Method

Place the chickpeas in a food processor with the garlic, tahini, lemon juice and cumin and blitz to a paste. Pour in 4-5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and whizz again to make a creamy puree.

Add a little water if the texture is stiff to loosen and whizz again. 

Taste and add extra seasoning if needed. Add more lemon juice if required and sprinkle with a little paprika and extra virgin olive oil just before serving. 

Serve with crudités or some nice, warm naan bread.