Flu Fighting Foods

It’s that time of year again. Flu season. Though it’s already been winter for over a month, we still have to ride out February.  
None of us can afford to fall victim to the flu. Maybe you’ve already done your diligence with a flu shot, or your washing your hands 10 times a day. Those are all important precautions, but equally important is your diet. What you eat matters when trying to keep yourself well. 

Some foods are better for fighting the flu than others. So, stay well by adding these eight flu fighting foods to your diet this winter.

Red Bell Peppers

If you’re not a fan of vitamin C chews or drinks, try red bell pepper. These veggies are packed with more vitamin C than a traditional orange and also have a high water content for hydration.

Nuts

Not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of flu-fighting foods, but Brazil nuts contain the antioxidant, selenium, and almonds contain vitamin E. 

Garlic

This superfood is especially helpful to have around during flu season. Garlic contains an enzyme, allicin, known to aid a variety of health issues, and can actually help to prevent the spread of the flu or other infections.

Dark Chocolate

It sounds too good to be true, but the cocoa in dark chocolate can help your t-helper cells, which aid the immune system when it comes to fighting infections caused by flu. So go ahead and eat that chocolate bar for dessert.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain beta-glucan, a natural immune system booster. They are an easy ingredient to add into soups, salads, scrambled eggs or pizza and give off extra immune support.

Water

Okay, it’s not exactly a food, but water is one of the most important things your body needs when you’re sick. Water always trumps sports drinks when it comes to hydration while sick, and is a must while recovering from the flu as well. Also, try to avoid soda and limit your daily coffee intake, as these will dehydrate you more.

Honey

You’ve maybe heard this already, but honey has been proven to help stop bacteria growth as well as suppress coughing and other cold and flu symptoms. Add a spoonful to your tea, smoothie or on your toast to prevent that nasty cough.