5 Foods that Fight the Flu

‘Tis the sniffle season and as the temperatures change, many of us will fall victim to colds and flu. If you are among the unlucky who get sick this year, you can speed your recovery by eating yourself better! Here are some of the foods that will help you to heal.

Chicken Soup: An oldie and a goodie! A 2000 study by Dr. Stephen Rennard, confirmed that chicken soup really does help you heal. Soup is gentle on the digestive system and contains tons of valuable nutrients. Throw in some extra veggies to bolster the vitamin content and go easy on the salt.

Echinacea: This super plant has both antiviral and antibacterial properties. Take at least 3 grams of Echinacea when you’re under the weather to help speed your recovery. Buy Echinacea from your health food store and add a couple of drops to your water or juice for effective relief.

Garlic: The ingredient that gives garlic its signature taste is alliin. Alliin acts as a decongestant and an antibacterial and it’s the perfect thing to help relieve the symptoms of colds and flu. Alliin boosts your white blood cell count which helps to strengthen your immune system.

Ginger: Ginger is a super food that has a number of properties that makes it the perfect cure for a cold. Ginger relieves sore throats and has the same pain-reliving strength as many over-the-counter pain medications. Ginger’s expectorant properties relive decongestion. Ginger also combats nausea and has anti-inflammatory properties that help to sooth aching bodies. Cut fresh ginger into a pot and boil to make ginger tea.

Honey: Ever wondered why honey doesn’t go off even if it’s not in the fridge? It contains antimicrobials that combat bacteria. Honey also soothes sore throats and relives coughs.