Mucus Congestion

What Is It?

We all have mucus which protects us against various infections which it does by lining the walls of our respiratory system. Mucus (phlegm) is produced in larger amounts when working to fight off foreign invaders which are killed and expelled from the body via coughing, so expelling mucus is a sign that your body is working to fight off infection. www.nativeremedies.com

Coughing up yellow or green mucus can denote an infection, and mucus which contains blood should never be ignored as this can denote a more serious infection such pneumonia or tuberculosis, so always consult with your GP if these symptoms are evident. If the colour is brown or greyish this is a sign that the body is trying to rid itself of the harmful toxins caused by smoking.

Cause and Effect

Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream may make allergy symptoms worse. Casein, the naturally occurring protein in dairy products, can promote the formation of mucus. It can also make existing mucus thicker in your nose and sinuses, leaving a person completely congested. It may also cause a runny nose or the ever-annoying nasal drip.

Conventional doctors may not agree with the notion that dairy promotes mucus, but many people swear that ditching dairy has cured their sinus problems. So, it is worth trying to eliminate all things dairy for at least 1-2 weeks to see if this improves symptoms.

It’s worth considering that the protein in milk, casein, is also used to make adhesives such as glue, beer bottle labels and wood glue used in furniture. Think about it - if casein can make two objects stick together, imagine what it can do to your sinuses.

If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you may be more susceptible to mucus congestion.

Juice Pharmacy Recommendations

What to Avoid

Cough suppressants - Do not take cough suppressants as these can cause a build-up of phlegm, leading to prolonged infection.

Dairy - Ingestion of dairy products has been strongly linked to over-production of mucus, leading to congestion of the sinuses and respiratory tract. If a person is suffering from seasonal allergies and the symptoms involve constant nasal and sinus congestion, it may be a good idea to take a look at the dairy in your diet.

Cutting out salts and all refined sugars can be beneficial as well as giving up smoking which can aggravate respiratory infections.

What to Include

As a therapeutic programme, a fast of organic vegetable juices for 2-3 weeks can help detoxify the body, thus improving its ability to cope with allergies. Two juice combinations which are particularly beneficial are asparagus, beetroot, ginger and carrot and also cucumber, carrot, ginger and celery.  Celery, cucumber and mint are all good for clearing congestion.

Ginger - A known antitussive (a natural cough remedy/reliever), it is also an expectorant and mucolyctic capable of dissolving, digesting or liquefying mucus.  Ginger is a superb natural decongestant.

Water - Drinking plenty of water will help with loosening of phlegm.

The Juice Recipes

Shot
The Ginger Shot - taken from Jason Vale's Super Juice Me! 28-Day Juice Plan
3cm ginger
1 small or ½ large apple
Simply juice the ingredients and knock back!

Juice
Turbo With A Kick - taken from Jason Vale's 5-Day Juice Challenge
2 apples
¼ pineapple
1 handful spinach leaves
½ lime
½ stalk celery
3cm cucumber
1cm ginger
¼ avocado
Juice all the ingredients except the avocado. Pour the juice into a blender along with the avocado flesh and blend until smooth.

Disclaimer

Please note, it is impossible to give a definitive list as what supports one person can be a trigger food or allergen for another. You must stay your own juice detective at all times and listen to how your own body responds to certain foods and always consult with your healthcare provider when making changes to your diet which may affect your medication. Please be aware that we are not doctors, so it is important to consult with your GP or medical practitioner BEFORE making any changes to your diet. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, or a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, are provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.

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