Continuously boosting your immune system is crucial, so what foods can help prevent colds? Spices like scallions and ginger are not only great for stir-frying, but can also be added to dishes to create excellent “cold-fighting” dishes.

Scallions and ginger are ingredients that can help boost immunity.

Green onions: Help kill bacteria, with both the white and green parts working well.

Scallions contain pungent, stimulating sulfur compounds like propylene sulfide, which have antibacterial properties and can help boost immunity. Scallions have the white part near the root and the green part at the top. The white part is a medicinal ingredient, and the sulfur compounds it contains can help kill bacteria and warm the body.

In the past, people boiled the white and green parts of scallions together to create “scallion water,” which can relieve colds caused by cold winds. The warm water promotes heat in the body.

Finely chopping the white and green parts of the scallions helps release sulfur compounds and allicin. This scallion chicken soup, with its generous addition of chopped scallions, imparts a fragrant, slightly spicy flavor.

Remember to add the chopped scallions right before removing the chicken soup from the heat, or pour the chicken soup into the bowl containing the chopped scallions. This prevents the scallions from losing their effectiveness due to prolonged cooking, where the sulfur compounds are lost.

Adding zinc-rich clams and polysaccharide-rich mushrooms to this scallion chicken soup can also help boost stamina and immunity. Adding sliced ​​onions and simmering briefly will enhance the onion’s sulfur compounds, vitamin C, and other nutrients, which can boost immunity. These ingredients will enrich the scallion chicken soup’s flavor and enhance its texture.

The crispy chopped scallions offer a truly delightful aroma and subtle spiciness.

Old ginger: Relieves cold and fever, but consider when to use it for health care.

Ginger, abundant in winter, can dispel wind and cold and help with fever. Ginger contains gingerol, which promotes blood circulation, metabolism, and sweating. Eating it raw or in cooking can warm the body and prevent colds. Ginger can be used to relieve discomfort when you’re cold, but it’s important to be mindful of when to use it.

If you’ve already developed cold symptoms and want to boost your immunity through ginger dishes, be mindful of your cold. For wind-heat colds with sore throats and inflammation, ginger’s combination of gingerol and its heat-inducing properties can exacerbate the inflammation, so avoid it.

Shredded ginger releases gingerol more easily, making it ideal for making porridge. It warms the stomach and stimulates blood circulation. Pairing it with pork slices or pork shanks, which are rich in vitamin B, can relieve fatigue and boost energy.

Common white ingredients in winter, such as yam, white fungus, and lotus seeds, can be added in moderation to help maintain the lungs and respiratory tract. Add an egg to supplement protein and dark green vegetables such as chopped spinach to make the porridge more nutritious.