With winter round the corner, do allergies and flu seem unavoidable? Take a closer look at the foods you should eat to help you build your body`s inherent ability to fight diseases and enjoy a healthy winter.

Garlic has been extensively used as a herbal medicine. It is known to prevent diseases ranging from colds to cancer.

It is a natural antibiotic and improves the body`s resistance to diseases.

Healthy, spicy garlic rasam/soup

Ingredients:
1 tsp - channa dal
1 dry red chilli
1 tsp - coriander seeds
1/2 tsp - black pepper
1/4 tsp - cumin
5-6 cloves - garlic
1/4 cup - curry leaves
1/2 - tomato, chopped
1/2 cup - tamarind extract
1&1/2 cup - tur dal water
1 tsp - mustard seeds
Some coriander leaves
1 tsp - oil
Salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a kadhai, fry channa dal, red chilli, coriander seeds, black pepper and cumin.
When dal turns slightly brown, add garlic cloves.
Switch off the stove and add curry leaves.
Grind this into a coarse paste adding very little water.
In a vessel, take tamarind extract, add tomato, salt and paste.
Bring to a boil, then add dal water and again wait till it boils.
Temper with mustard seeds and garnish with coriander leaves.

Image: Flickr/creativecommons mullica