What Indian food when you are sick? When you are feeling sick and unwell, what can you eat that is nourishing and healthy?
Indian food, with its great variety in tastes, ingredients and flavors, is widely popular around the world.
In India, traditionally each state has its own dishes and cooking techniques to keep households nourished throughout their lives.
As such, it only makes sense to reach for Indian food when we feel ill too.
But which particular dishes have the right balance of nutrients to make us better?
Traditions have sustained Indian families over time by providing the nourishment needed during sickness.
With so many different kinds of dishes on offer, there is always a flavorful recipe that could benefit our health in various ways.
Indian Food when You are Sick
Here are some classic Indian recipes that are perfect when you are looking for good food to replenish your energy levels while recovering from an illness.
When you’re feeling under the weather, it can be hard to know what kind of food to reach for.
But the ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine claims that certain kinds of Indian food are especially beneficial when you’re sick.
Here a few tips on how to use Indian cuisine as part of your home remedy.
Drink Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is one of the most recommended remedies for colds and other ailments in India, and has even been used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory agent in traditional Chinese medicine.
When you’re feeling sick with a sore throat or congestion, make yourself some ginger tea by adding freshly sliced ginger root to hot water, stirring in a teaspoon of honey, and sipping slowly.
Go Easy on Spicy Food
While spicy food may seem like more tempting when you’re feeling run down—largely due to its ability to clear sinuses and stop up noses—eating too much of it may worsen coughs and dehydrate the body further due to its heating qualities.
Go for dishes that are lightly spiced such as kormas or tikkas instead.
Opt For Soups And Stews
Opting for soups and stews can be an excellent way to get nutrition into your body quickly while still being easy on the stomach given their low acridity levels without any heavily spiced ingredients.
A nutritious option would be mulligatawny soup, made from lentils and curry powder blended with vegetable broth and salt to taste; or dal tadka which is a stew made from boiled yellow split peas mashed with either butter or ghee cooked with garlic, onion and tomatoes, finished off with cumin seeds for added flavor.
Reach For Round Breads Like Roti Or Bhakri Instead Of Rice Dishes
If your illness prevents you from having enough appetite then round breads like roti or bhakri would be great choices given their lightness – they also help fill your tummy without any feelings of discomfort later such as bloating after eating rice dishes like biryani which tend to take longer time in digestion due to higher complex carbohydrate content than rolled breads do .
Maintain Hydration With Coconut Water
Coconut water helps keep cells hydrated due to its electrolyte composition & will also ensure that fluids remain within body cells instead of passing through urinary route which may lead too lethargy caused by dehydration – making it ideal for those suffering from exhaustion & other illnesses involving feverish symptoms such as fevers , cold & infections .
Additionally , besides aiding rehydration , coconut water contains numerous health benefits like boosting immunity & mineral absorption from other diets taken concurrently during one’s sickness .
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are feeling mildly under the weather or have a full-blown illness, reach for some Indian food.
Not only is Indian food comforting and delicious when you’re sick, but it can also provide much needed nutrients in your diet and help to speed up your recovery.
Plus, it’s often easy to access from restaurants or make quickly at home.
So next time you feel unwell, consider giving Indian food a try!
