The Most Relevant Advice During this Pandemic. Try these Kadha Recipes for Cold in 2021 and Boost Your Immunity.

The Most Relevant Advice During this Pandemic. Try these Kadha Recipes for Cold in 2021 and Boost Your Immunity.

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought our lives to a standstill. While we may be safe inside our homes, the danger is still lurking around. So, it is time to take proactive steps to keep our and loved ones' immunity strong by drinking Kadha. Try one of these recipes and take control of your health.

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Kadha and Its Benefits

Kadha is nothing new for an Indian. We all have had a cup full of Kadha since our childhood. Some of us like its taste and some of us don't but regardless of its taste, Kadha is a wonder potion. It is taken warm almost like tea and it helps in soothing cough and cold symptoms. It is made with Indian herbs and spices and is a great remedy for sore throat and other minor ailments. Although most of us knew about Kadha but not many drink it but since the spread of coronavirus, it has gained popularity and people are relying on it a lot more than usual. It is known to boost your immune system which is the only way to protect one from coronavirus. It is also recommended by the Indian Ministry of Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopath, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy as an effective way to fight infections.

Kadha is made up of dry ingredients which are added to boiling water to get the nutrients out of these herbs. These herbs are a rich source of natural antioxidants like carotenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, polyacetylenes, coumarins and many others. It helps in decreasing the risk of getting infections and works wonder on your skin by providing you with great anti ageing agents. You would be surprised to know that Kadha does not only boost your immunity but helps you in treating stones effectively. It is believed that drinking Kadha regularly for 6 months can help you remove stones from your body.





6 Best Kadha Recipes for Cold

Tulsi Kadha

Tulsi Kadha is a one of the best Indian Ayurvedic mix which helps in relieving cold and coughs effectively. It is made by mixing tea and spices with honey or jaggery and can be taken in any weather. This Kadha has been in use since ages as earlier when there were not many medicines available people drank it to soothe their throat.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 choti elaichi/green cardamoms
  • 2-3 badi elaichi/black cardamom
  • 4-5 laung/cloves
  • 1 tbsp saunf/fennel seeds
  • 2 piece mulethi/licorice
  • 1 small piece of adrak/ginger sliced
  • 4-5 kali mirch/pepper corns
  • 1 tbsp tulsi /Indian basil OR Italian basil if you do not get it nearby
  • 1 tea bag
  • gur/jaggery as per taste
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3 cups water

Procedure:

  • Take all the ingredients and slightly crush them except jaggery.
  • Put it all in a pan with water and boil it till it reduces to half and then add jaggery in it
  • Cook for a few minutes and strain it in a cup
  • Sip it like tea

Ayurvedic Kadha Recipe

You can also make this effective Ayurvedic Kadha if you want to boost your immunity and fight infections. It is a strong mix of various herbs and spices which are blended together to make this remedy. You can make it every day and serve it to your family to keep them fit.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Grated Ginger
  • ½ Teaspoon Carom Seeds(Ajwain)
  • 4-5 Leaves Tulsi
  • 2-3 Pieces Cloves
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Honey
  • 2 Cup Water

Procedure:

  • Take all the ingredients except honey and put them in a pot
  • Add water and boil it while stirring it until it reduces to almost half
  • Cover the pot and cook for 2 minutes
  • Strain it in a cup and app a tsp of honey
  • You can drink it twice to boost your immunity and stay healthy

Masala Black Tea or Kadha

Masala tea is very common in India. It is a great drink to have on cold winters and when you add Indian spices in it you turn it into a medicinal drink instantly. The mix of ginger and cinnamon gives it a great refreshing taste and works on your immunity as well as helps during common cold and coughs.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp chaipatti(tea leaves)
  • 2 Cardamom
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 ginger
  • 2 cinnamon stick

Procedure:

  • Start with boiling water in a pan
  • Now add sugar and tea leaves in it, cook for 2 minutes
  • Add in the spices and cook again for 2 minutes
  • Strain it and serve it hot
  • You can also add in some milk in it to enhance its taste and enjoy it even more

Three Basic Kadha Recipes

The weather is changing now which means your immune system needs more strength to protect you from infections. The weather changes can affect your metabolism and can cause stomach issues. The good old Kadha can help you fight these minor infections and keep you safe during this time. You can make Kadha in many different ways as long as you know the exact mix of herbs and spices to put in it. Here are three basic Kadha recipes you can make at home and serve it to your family.

Kadha 1

Take Tulsi leaves black pepper and ginger and grind them together. Add them in boiling water. Boil the water till it reduces and then add in honey. Sip it when you feel the need.

Kadha 2

Take half tsp of cinnamon powder in a cup of water. Boil it well and add in one tsp of honey. Drink it to boost your immunity.

Kadha 3

Take half tsp of giloy and drink it. Put it in a cup of water and boil it well. Drink it to boost your immunity help in digestion. It will also help in increasing your platelet count and keep you strong.

Ginger, Lemon And Honey Kadha

Ginger, lemon and honey Kadha is a great natural remedy for cough and cold. You will enjoy sipping it during the winters. It works on strengthening your immune system as well as helps you indigestion. If you are one of those people who usually fall sick when the weather changes and hate to fight with cold and cough you can easily make it at home and drink it. Another great reason for drinking this Kadha is that it helps in weight loss. You can take it twice daily before eating food to help you lose some weight.

Ingredients

  • 8 inch Ginger
  • Grated (you will need 5 tablespoons of ginger juice from it)
  • 10 tablespoons Honey
  • 5 tablespoons Lemon juice
  • Water , as required

Procedure:

  • Clean the ginger well and grate it, you will need about 5 tbs of ginger juice
  • Squeeze a lime in a bowl. You will need about 5 tbs of lime juice
  • Add in honey and lemon juice with the ginger juice and stir it till the honey is dissolved well
  • Take a glass of warm water and add 1 tbs of this mix in it
  • You can store it in an airtight container for 2 weeks in your fridge and drink it when you want

Traditional Kadha Recipe

We all have had a cup full of grandmother's Kadha at some point and even if we didn't like it when we were kids we still make it for our kids because we know the benefits of drinking it. The next recipe is the age old Indian Kadha recipe which has been around for ages. It is made with Tulsi which is a natural ingredient for sore throat, Pudina which is an antibacterial and antiviral, Green cardamom which has anti inflammatory properties, Black pepper helps in detoxing the body, Ginger is which works on fighting cold and flu infections, Mulethi which again helps in boosting our immune system, Cinnamon and cloves which are loaded with vitamins and minerals and of course Munnaka which clears dry cough and soothes the throat.

Ingredients

  • 5 leaves Holy Basil Tulsi
  • 10 leaves Fresh Mint Pudina
  • 1 Green Cardamom
  • 1 Black cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 5 grams Ginger
  • 2 grams Cinnamon
  • 2 Cloves
  • 3 Munnaka raisins

Procedure:

  • Take tulsi and crush it lightly with pudina and put them in a bowl
  • Crush green cardamom, black cardamom, and add them to the same bowl
  • Now add ginger, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, munnaka in it and soak them in couple of tbs of water overnight. It is good to keep them in the fridge.
  • In the morning take a pan and heat 2.5 cups of water and add the soaked ingredients in it. Cook it on simmer for 4 to 5 minutes
  • Strain it and drink it hot.

Other Natural Ways of Fighting a Cold

Cold is a common problem and we end up taking high doses of antibiotics for it which can cause adverse effect to our body later on. You can fight these cold symptoms naturally by different ways.

Here are some tips on how to keep the cold at bay

  • Drink water Drink a lot of water and other liquids to keep yourself hydrated. You can take juices, broth, warm lemon water to get some vitamin C into your system. The intake of liquid helps in loosening congestion and prevents dehydration. Stay away from alcohol, coffee and caffeinated drinks when not feeling well as they can hydrate your body more.
  • Don't forget to blow your nose correctly. When you have cold you start to feel stuffy and uncomfortable. The mucus gets stuck to your throat and the back of your head which can make you feel worse. When you blow your nose the germ carrying phlegm comes up to your ear passages and caused earache. To do it correctly you need to press a finger over one nostril and blow gently to clear it and then repeat on the other side.
  • You can use warm salt water to clear your stuffy nose. It removes the virus and bacteria from your nose. Take 1/4 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda and add it in 8 ounces of warm water. Take a bulb syringe to squirt water into your nose. Hold one nostril with a finger and squirt the liquid into the other nostril and let it drain. Repeat this method a couple of times in day to clear your nose.
  • Meditation also helps in boosting your immune system. It helps in getting rid of the stress and helps you remain calm when sick. Close your eyes and breathe for a few minutes to feel better.
  • You can also use saline nasal drops or sprays. These are non medicated sprays which can help you relieve congestion in your body and nose by washing away the dried mucus
  • Adding moisture to the air can help you as well. Dry air can cause irritation to your nose and throat therefore using a humidifier in your bedroom during night can help you sleep better.
  • Steam is another great way to help you heal. You can turn on hot water in your bathroom and inhale the steam. You can also take steam from a bowl of hot water. This will thin out the mucus and come out easily.
  • We all know the benefits of gargling. It moisten our through and provides relief to it. You can add a tsp of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle as many times you want during the day.
  • Try sleeping with an extra pillow under your head when fighting cold. This will elevate your head and keep your nasal passage open.
  • Take rest; sleep as much as you can as your body needs time to heal itself. Keep your phone turned off while sleeping to relax yourself and heal better.
Writer
Sarita Tiwari
Sarita worked in the development sector for 20 years but found her passion in writing. She is a blogger, a content writer and a ghost writer for various industries. When not writing, you will find her spending time with her family, cooking and traveling. She is an introvert and feels that writing gives a voice to her thoughts.
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Drink Kadha and Keep Yourself Protected from Cold in 2020

With 2020 already coming to an end, there is no solution still in sight for the deadly Coronavirus. The best we can do is keep our immunities strong by drinking kadha and staying healthy. Try one of these recipes and do tell us how you liked the kadha.