Flu Season Dinners

In our community the flu, bronchitis, earaches, and colds are everywhere. A nurse practitioner I saw the other day said that it's "horrible, really bad."

In times like these I like to review the stay healthy articles I have saved. There's comfort in knowing there are things you can do to prevent sickness. I had the flu a couple of years ago, and I thought I was going to--- die. One article I particularly like is Stop Worrying About The Flu--Your Six Best Options Revealed. It was at Dr. Mercola's site in 2004. If you don't know about him yet, he is an M.D. who specializes in Natural Healing.

To see his expansive website, go to http://www.mercola.com/

Here are six ways Dr. Mercola says you can avoid the flu. He goes more into depth at his site.

Avoid sugar. Sugar works by breaking down the functions of the immune system .

Get enough rest. Sleep will help build up your resistance against potential invaders.

Have tools to address stress. 90% of illness and disease are stress-related.

Exercise. Exercise helps your immune system by improving circulation.

Eat Garlic Regularly. Garlic is antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal .

Wash Your Hands. Good handwashing will decrease the likelihood of spreading viruses.

Here's two flu-season dinners at Nana and Daba's house.

Grilled Garlic-Marinated Chicken Breasts

4-6 skinless chicken breasts

I cup olive oil

10 cloves of garlic

salt and pepper

paprika

Wash and dry chicken. Put in glass baking dish. Pour oil over it. Then with a garlic press, crush garlic over chicken. Add salt, pepper and paprika. Cover the dish and put in the refrigerator for 4-6 hours.

Grill

Suggestions for side dishes are baked sweet potatoes and fresh asparagus.

Daba's Steak and Rice

2 pounds Tenderloin, cut into strips about a quarter inch thick.

Half a stick of butter

Quarter cup of olive oil

4-5 cloves of garlic

Garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Cut meat into strips about a quarter-inch thick. Cover lightly with garlic powder. Chop two gloves of garlic and garlic press or crush three gloves into the the oil and butter. Heat, but don't burn garlic, add meat, seasoned side down. Sprinkle salt and pepper and more garlic powder on meat. Cook to desired doneness.

Take meat out and use drippings. Add a can of peas and a little pepper. Heat till warm. Serve with rice (brown is best, but Daba likes white) and a salad.

So here's the wrap-up.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Have a good dinner, with garlic.

Don't eat dessert.

Take a walk after you eat.

De-stress.

Go to bed early.

Won't you be so glad when the flu season is over? Then maybe we can really stop worrying.