Foods to Fight Flu

No one can escape the flu, but especially during flu season, it seems like every other person you pass on the street is desperately trying to battle the sniffles, fever and body aches. However, if you would like to strengthen your body's defenses against colds and flu this season, you can always change your diet to boost your immune system.

Whenever you want to boost your immune system to fight the flu, remember to load up on vitamin C. Vitamin C is shown in countless studies to effectively fight the symptoms of colds and the flu by boosting the immune system. Fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, berries and black currants are excellent sources of the fighting vitamin C. Drink a lot of fruit juices to help get over the flu this season.

This flu season, also remember to load up on zinc. Zinc is one of the essential minerals that boost the immune system. Zinc can be found in foods such as pork, crab, cheese, chicken and shell fish.

Another mineral that you should consume to boost your immune system against colds and the flu is selenium. Selenium can be found in fish, turkey, nuts and pork. For the healthiest meals to protect your body from the flu, you should try to incorporate as many of these immune-system-boosting foods as possible in your diet.

Foods that are high in vitamins A and E are also necessary in boosting the immune system. That's because vitamins A and E protect the membrane of the immune system from impending germs and they help the immune system ward off potential harm. When you have the flu or are trying to boost your immune system to prevent the flu, you should eat foods such as carrots, eggs, pumpkin and turkey that are high in vitamin A. Also, eat foods such as whole grains, hazelnuts and egg yolk to get your dose of vitamin E.

Drinking liquids is especially important when you have the flu. Water and liquids will keep your body hydrated during the flu and as such you should drink water, teas and soups during cold and flu season or whenever you have the cold or flu.

You can drink antioxidant teas that are rich in vitamins A and E to fight the flu. Also, herbal teas contain phytonutrients that strengthen and boost the immune system.

Chicken soups or soups loaded with essential vitamins and minerals help you to get over colds and the flu faster. So drink these hot meals chocked full of nutritious health benefits to beat the sniffles.

To keep the body hydrated during colds and the flu remember to drink at least five glasses of water a day. Keeping hydrated during a fever means that you help he body cool down which will help you to break the fever.

So being excessively miserable during a cold or the flu can be avoided by eating foods that help you get over your symptoms faster. Stay hydrated, load up on essential vitamins and minerals and you will sweat out the flu in no time.