Here are 4 + 1 folk remedies Hungarians believe in when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius.

Healing foods

The simplest way to strengthen your immune system is proper nutrition. If you are too late and already have a cold or sore throat, do not worry. Hungarians eat a wide variety of foods because they believe in their healing power.

Traditional Hungarian húsleves a.k.a. chicken soup

Húsleves is a cherished, traditional starter for any family celebration, wedding, or a typical Sunday lunch. However, it is also the dish Hungarians go for when they are feeling under the weather. It is basically a hug in a bowl; it is rich, warm, and full of vegetables and vitamins. It is actually similar to chicken noodle soup, which is a well-known remedy in the United States. However, the Hungarian version is different.

First, we do not put wide noodles in it. Some Hungarian families actually prefer the soup without any kind of pasta, but the most commonly used type is called cérnametélt, which is an extremely thin pasta. The stars of the soup are definitely the vegetables and the cooked chicken. This clear golden liquid is cooked very slowly, usually for 3-4 hours, and it is forbidden to stir it. You must add the vegetables and spices very gently to the mix.

Garlic (and other types of onions)

Garlic is one of Hungarians’ all-time favourite ingredients (next to paprika). But we eat it not only because it makes everything spicy and delicious but also because of its many health benefits. Garlic is not only antibacterial, but it also has mucus-relieving effects. It can help cleanse our body. Hungarians believe that garlic is one of the most effective vegetables to eat to fight respiratory illnesses. Put it on your toast in the morning, and you are good to go.

Fun fact: Hungarians often mix garlic and honey, the two wonder cures, and have that on their toast.

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Honey

Hungarians practically bath in honey when they have a cold. Honey has a disinfecting effect and serves as an inflammation relief. It is highly recommended to eat more honey during the cold seasons when people are more likely to catch a cold. You are advised to have a nice cup of tea with a teaspoon of honey just to stay healthy. Apart from the medical benefits, Hungarian honey has a unique and delicious flavour you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Honey-making actually has an ancient history in Hungary. There are traces that there were beekeepers already in medieval Hungary, who were mostly teachers or monks. Hungarian acacia honey has been officially registered as a Hungaricum since 2014.

Steam inhalation

Stuffy nose? Grandmothers always have their home remedies ready: Go to the bathroom, and inhale saltwater steam with a towel on your head. Breathing in moist, warm steam helps with irritation and swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages. It can also help thin the mucus in your sinuses, which allows them to empty more easily and you can breathe normally again.

+1 Pálinka

You did not think we would leave this off the list, did you? A shot of palinka a day keeps the doctor away. Obviously, do not drink palinka every day, but if you are feeling under the weather or have a nasty cold, it can actually work miracles. The theory that pálinka helps fight off a cold has been debunked by professionals, but we can honestly say that it has helped us several times. Placebo or not, what works, works.

source: Daily News Hungary

Eat more fruits and vegetables

Fibre has many health benefits, including lowering the risk of some health issues. Eat more of vitamin C rich fruits such as orange, lemon or cauliflower. Eating healthy, nutritious foods is essential to living a healthy life, and it is crucial in wintertime. Eat a lot of vegetables – kales or brussels sprouts for example. These veggies are full of fibre, antioxidants and are exceptionally nutritious.

Drink more water

Staying hydrated during the winter days is a great way to boost your immune system and avoid getting sick. On a cold winter night, it is nice to have your favourite green tea, but don’t forget to drink at least 2 litres of water every day. Drink a glass of water every hour to maintain your energy levels and brain functions – and to avoid getting sick.

Work out

Regular physical exercise can improve your health in general and can affect your mood positively. Working out also reduces the risks of heart disease, stress, and respiratory infections. Get active for at least 30 minutes every day, and your body will thank you!

Get vaccinated

To protect against seasonal flu, the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated. Flu vaccines help the immune system producing antibodies that protect against the flu. The vaccine can prevent up to 60% of flu infections, so getting the flu shot and living a healthy life will save you from getting sick.

Practice good hygiene

Wash your hands often! Or carry around a pocket-sized hand sanitizer to clean your hands anywhere you are. Viruses can enter our system through our nose, mouth or even eyes. Don’t touch your face with your hands unless they are clean! Washing your hands regularly throughout the day, especially if you use public transport, or have physical contact with other people, can help to protect against viral infections.

Clean up

Other than our hands, viruses can also survive on other surfaces like metal, plastic or paper. During the day, we touch many objects, and our mobile phones, computer keyboards, and money are constantly in our hands. No wonder that these everyday items host many viruses and bacteria. Disinfect your desk and regularly used items with alcohol-based cleaning products to lower the risk of infections.

Keep the air clean

We all like to arrive at our warm home after a long day of work. Especially in winter, we can’t wait to finally get home and warm up our cold bodies. However, we often forget about changing the air in the house. Open the windows as soon as you arrive home, to clean the air! Common colds and the flu are respiratory infections. This means that they travel through the air that we breathe. Let fresh air in to reduce the risk of germs staying inside. 

Don’t get too close

During the flu season it is a good idea to stay two arms’ length away from each other. As viruses can travel through the air, they can be inhaled easily from a sick person’s exhale. If you use public transport, try to keep your distance from others. If you work in an office with many others, make sure to let fresh air in at least two or three times a day. When someone from your household got sick, try to avoid physical contact with them and boost your immune system with some vitamins and a lot of water.

by Kitti Bába