Foods that fight colds and flu(stock.xchng)
stock.xchng
(AFP/Relaxnews) - It's that time of year again. In addition to post-holiday food comas and winter lethargy, cold and flu season lurks around the corner ready to pounce on weakened immune systems and ill-prepared victims. In a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers in New Zealand found that eating gold kiwifruit could help reduce the severity of colds.
Here are some other cold- and flu-fighting foods that could help keep illness at bay, according to the experts at WebMD.com.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Brzostowska shutterstock.com)
©Brzostowska shutterstock.com
Garlic
Stuffed up? Garlic contains a natural antibiotic called allicin, which fights viral and bacterial infections and acts as a decongestant.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©DUSAN ZIDAR shutterstock.com)
©DUSAN ZIDAR shutterstock.com
Tea
Whether it's green or black, tea is chock full of polyphenols or antioxidants which have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Geanina Bechea shutterstock.com)
©Geanina Bechea shutterstock.com
Honey
Honey acts in multiple ways: in addition to having antioxidant and antibacterial properties to help fight viruses, honey also helps to coat the throat and provide relief. Use it to sweeten tea and you get double the benefits as tea is also a good cold and flu-fighter.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Elena moiseeva shutterstock.com)
©Elena moiseeva shutterstock.com
Spices
Spices like turmeric, cloves and cinnamon are packed with antioxidants which help boost the immune system. Spicy foods can also act as a decongestant and get the sinuses running.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Valentyn Volkov shutterstock.com)
©Valentyn Volkov shutterstock.com
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are high in beta-glucans which can help fend off a cold by targeting and destroying disease-causing cells, and boost immune systems which have been weakened by chronic illness.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Paul Cowan shutterstock.com)
©Paul Cowan shutterstock.com
Salmon and other fatty fish
A landmark US study published in 2009 found that people who were vitamin D deficient were more likely to catch colds and the flu. Salmon is a good dietary source of vitamin D.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Peter zijlstra shutterstock.com)
©Peter zijlstra shutterstock.com
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant which mops up damaging free radicals and helps strengthen the immune system.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Peter zijlstra shutterstock.com)
©Peter zijlstra shutterstock.com
Broccoli and other green vegetables
Broccoli contains antioxidants and is rich in vitamin C, making it a powerful weapon in fending off colds and viruses. That goes for other green, cruciferous or leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage which also contain glutathione, an infection fighter.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©Beat Bieler shutterstock.com)
©Beat Bieler shutterstock.com
Ginger
Ginger has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to ward off colds and flu, and is said to be a natural pain reliever and fever reducer. Some studies suggest it can also help with inflammation.
Foods that fight colds and flu(©A9photo shutterstock.com)
©A9photo shutterstock.com
Chicken soup
It's called Jewish penicillin for a reason. In a study published in the journal 'Chest,' researchers confirmed that chicken soup had a mild anti-inflammatory effect that reduced symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.