Clear Your Sinuses with Sushi and Wasabi!
Today I woke up with major allergies and sinus problems. I could barely breathe. I had tried all kinds of over-the-counter medications which weren’t working very well. I complained on Facebook, and my high school friend Parrish Early of Houston asked, “isn’t there a spice that you eat with sushi that is so hot it clears your sinuses?”
OMG – he’s right. Wasabi to the rescue!
I remember many an episode of relief from nasal congestion while eating sushi at my favorite rolling sushi bar (that’s sushi on the conveyor belt) in Kichijoji, Tokyo. That’s because in Japan (and especially at that restaurant) the sushi chefs place lots of the real wasabi (more on that later) directly between the fish and the rice. There was no need to add any more wasabi – when I ate the sushi the burning sensation in my nose was instantaneous and strong. Rapid shaking of the head and a loud “Woo” always followed, sometimes combined with a pounding of the fist on the table as I struggled to regain composure. I remember my friend Missy and I crying every week eating that sushi – tears of joy and pain of course. We were always surprised both at the intensity of the wasabi and our suddenly very clear heads and nasal passages.
So now I have my justification for eating sushi today (not that I need one but it’s good to have when you’re a sushi addict and it’s a tight economy). It’s for my health. Really.
I would be remiss if I did not also encourage all my fellow allergy and sinus sufferers to get some sushi today and load up on the wasabi. Send in a comment afterwards and let us know if you experienced any relief. And oh yeah, take some pics while you’re at it and share them with us via the brand new and totally free Sushi Lovers Unite! online community at www.SushiLoversUnite.ning.com.
Viva la sushi! xx MakiMom
