He's defying age--with no signs of slowing at age 37--and now he's defied the common cold. Tom Brady showed heroism in the face of the Rhinovirus, downing "lots of garlic" to fight off a cold just days before his Super Bowl command performance. Speaking with, we must admit, an adorably stuffy-nosed voice on media day, he let it be known that he was just like any other Dad soldiering on with a household of mucous-laden toddlers:
"I've had it for four or five days. My kids got sick and my wife is pretty sick right now. I brought it unfortunately to Phoenix but I'll be fine. I'll be good. I'll be 100 percent. I'm not worried about it at all."
Brady is known for seeking holistic cures, with the help of his "body coach" Alex Guerrero (as detailed in The New York Times)--and no doubt with a big assist from Brazilian home remedies courtesy of Mrs. Brady--he's managed to avoid sick days for even the most intractable tendon pulls. As for his head cold, the NFL super-star turned to that most powerful of all super-foods...garlic.
"It's been lingering, so I'm just trying to get some rest. A lot of garlic, old remedies, everything I can," Brady said.
We agree with his approach. And suggest the following easy-to-make soup: Click here for the recipe.
Immune Boost Soup (serves four with leftovers)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic (coarsely chopped
1/2 small onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
1 small carrot, cut into rounds
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 small head broccoli, trimmed and coarsely chopped
4 cups water
pinch of salt
fresh ground pepper, to taste
1. In a medium pot, heat oil on medium. Sauté garlic, onion, carrot, and spices for 3-5 minutes, until soft.
2. Trim and coarsely chop broccoli. Add broccoli and water to pot and simmer, covered, on low for 15 minutes (until broccoli is soft.)
3. Uncover and cool for 5-10 minutes. Place in blender and puree until creamy.*
4. Season with salt and pepper.
*Be cautious when using a blender to puree warm/hot items in blender. Hold top down firmly with hand. Otherwise, top could easily pop off, splattering hot liquids.
Recipe adapted courtesy of Power Up by Woodson Merrell, M.D. (Free Press; 2008).