Top 4 Foods to Help Protect Against Swine Flu

In addition to getting vaccinated, regularly washing your hands, and avoiding crowded public gatherings, choosing the right food can help you avoid getting or reduce the severity of Swine Flu.

As the Swine Flu reaches near pandemic levels, give your immune system a boost with daily portions of beef, orange vegetables, mushrooms, tea, and yogurt.

Beef:
The health benefits of Zinc have been well documented. Zinc helps develop white blood cells, which are needed to fight off foreign bacteria and viruses. Further, a Zinc deficiency can greatly increase the risk of infection, and of contracting infectious diseases such as Swine Flu.

While beef in large quantities can cause a variety of other health problems, a daily three-ounce portion of lean beef will supply you with all the Zinc your body needs to protect itself from Swine Flu.

Vegetarians may wish to take a Zinc supplement or look for Zinc fortified grain products.

Orange Vegetables:
Our skin needs vitamin A to remain in top condition. Since our skin is our body's first line of defense against Swine Flu and other viral infections we should make sure we are getting all the vitamin A our skin requires.

Sweet potatoes and carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, which the body quickly turns into vitamin A. Daily servings or sweet potatoes or carrots is a great way to make sure your skin is ship shape if it comes in contact with a contaminated surface.

Olive Oil:
Olive oil protects against free radicals, and helps the body absorb certain vitamins.

Further, this old-world staple is good for more than just your diet. When applied to the skin, olive oil's powerful blend of both antioxidants and polyphenol prevents the formation of free radicals in cells. This means it's scientifically proven to slow the aging process.

As with orange vegetables and vitamin A, healthier skin means more protection from infectious disease such as Swine Flu.

Yogurt:
In addition to being another immunity-boosting food, which can help protect you against swine flu, yogurt is especially important to eat after you have been prescribed antibiotics. Yogurts that contain active cultures are a good source of healthy bacteria, which are depleted when we take antibiotics. These bacteria play an important role in breaking down and digesting the other foods we eat, ensuring we get all the vitamins and benifits those foods have to offer.down and digesting the other foods we eat, ensuring we getall the vitamins and benefits those foods have to offer. down and digesting the other foods we eat, ensuring we getall the vitamins and benefits those foods have to offer. down and digesting the other foods we eat, ensuring we getall the vitamins and benefits those foods have to offer.