How well do you protect yourself against the common cold and flu? I’m not talking about taking over-the-counter medications here. One of the best ways to ward off the flu is by strengthening your overall immune health, and the most natural way to do that is with food.
What you eat has serious effects on your body’s ability to ward off illness. So incorporate these 10 foods with natural, flu-fighting super powers into your daily diet and enjoy a germ-free winter…
Garlic
Garlic does more than ward off vampires, it also stinks out sickness! Fresh garlic is high in an antimicrobial compound called phytochemical allicin, and a few cloves can proactively banish cold germs and help the body recover faster from the flu.
Tea
Green tea gets the most buzz when it comes to its immune-boosting prowess, but any tea—black, white, or green—contain catechins, which are responsible for wiping away traces of those nasty free radicals.
Chicken Soup
Dubbed Mother Nature’s penicillin, chicken soup really does warm the soul and cure the flu by clearing clogged airways with its nourishing broth. Plus, you’ll get a blast of healthy energy from the vegetables, garlic, and lean protein.
Strawberries
Just 1-cup of sliced strawberries provides a whole whack of illness-preventing antioxidants, which help reduce the intensity and duration of colds and flu, as well as their symptoms.
Mushrooms
The underrated mushroom packs a powerful, wham, bam, flu-fighting punch thanks to two secret weapons: selenium, which encourages the white blood cells to produce germ-fighting cytokines; and beta glucan, an antimicrobial fiber that obliterates infection.
Almonds
It seems that almonds provide more than heart-healthy properties; they’re also jam-packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, including vitamin E, which diminish the symptoms of respiratory infections.
Citrus
Everyone knows to reach for oranges (and orange juice) when you feel a cold coming on. However, citrus fruits like grapefruit, tangerines, or lemon/lime squeezed into tea will increase your vitamin C intake and give your body the strength it needs to fight off the flu.
Sweet Potato
Beta-carotene encourages immune system cell growth, improving your immune defense and neutralizing flu germs. That’s why sweet potatoes and squash should be on your cold-defense menu.
Yogurt
Did you know that the digestive tract is one of your biggest allies against fighting off microorganisms? As your largest immune organ, a healthy and functioning digestive system will flush out disease-causing germs in a snap. That’s why you should eat yogurt with “live and active cultures” (i.e., probiotics and prebiotics) when you feel like you’re getting sick.
Wild Salmon
Vitamin D is a valuable partner when it comes to warding off respiratory infections. However, during the winter, it’s tough to find. The good news is that you can easily increase your vitamin D stores with one 3.5-ounce serving of wild salmon.
