When you feel the sting of a scratchy sore throat or feel the congestion mounting in the sinuses, you know there are tired and true remedies — chicken soup, honey, chamomile, and citrus — that help ameliorate the ickiness of a cold. Despite these go-to things, there are many more under-the-radar foods that can do just as much. Here are some of the few unexpected vegetables that help when you come down with a cold.
Soybeans
While soy and its soy milk have gotten pretty bad reputations in the US, soybeans themselves are densely packed with a variety of nutrients that are great for when you’re under the weather. The protein in soybeans is easily digestible, and the amount of zinc — 4.2 mg for every hundred grams — makes them a great contender. You can easily get these benefits from soy-based products like tofu, edamame, or tempeh.
Green Peas
A bowl of peas and butter may sound like a wayback food but don’t dismiss this legume. With 3.8 mg of zinc for every hundred grams of peas, it makes them a great cold-busting veggie. Peas also contain saponins, which in recent studies have been shown to help with immunity and have some antiviral properties.
Peanuts
While you may pass by your jar of peanut butter or salted peanuts, it might be time to give them a second look. A part of the legume family, peanuts, like their chickpea and lentil cousins, are not just packed full of protein, but they are also rich in zinc and tryptophan which will help with recovery and a good night’s rest.
Leeks
While people reach for onions, garlic, and shallots, try out leeks when you start to feel under the weather. Leeks contain a sulfur compound called allicin, which has anti-fungal, anti-viral, and antibacterial properties.
Radishes
Radishes with their peppery spice are great to have during a cold as they help break up congestion in the nasal cavities. The trick is to have them raw! If you find that option too spicy, you can turn to radish’s bigger cousin daikon which also has enzymes that dispel mucus.
Broccoli
Many think that an orange is the vitamin-C king, you might want to try out a head of broccoli. While most broccoli is eaten cooked, in its boiled stage broccoli boasts more calcium per serving than an average orange serving.
Potatoes
While putting a raw potato in a sock near the bottom of your feet to drain the toxins from your body won’t cure a cold, eating a potato might help. Potatoes are full of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B. Sweet potatoes are also a great alternative as they have a lot of vitamin A which helps heal nasal and intestinal lining and skin (which is the body’s first line of defense against colds).