Advice On Foods To Eat To Avoid The Flu

by SuzyQ

posted on 10/20/2009

Although the threat of swine flu may be very real for some individuals, protecting yourself from the H1N1 virus may be as simple as eating the right foods and doing moderate exercise. Researchers across the globe are offering advice on what foods to eat to help build up your immune system, which is the best way to ward off swine flu and other illnesses.

So what foods should you be eating? Here are the top foods recommended by scientists and health professionals, who have documented research to back up their claims.

Eat more lean protein. This includes lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs and soybeans. Proteins are the building blocks of our body's cell structure and the more we can do to keep them strong, the better our natural immunity against attack.

Increase your intake of dairy products. Milk and other dairy products, such as low-fat cheese and yogurt are good choices. They are also high in protein, so they give you double protection.

Choose foods rich in Vitamins A, C and D. Vitamin A is essential in keeping our respiratory system healthy, which Vitamin C has anti-viral properties. Vitamin D is another flu-fighter. So to get your recommended dose of these vitamins, pile on extra servings of spinach, cabbage, carrots, pumpkins, apricots, mangoes, citrus fruits, berries, peppers and salmon. All are delicious as well as nutritious and beneficial.

Cook with garlic. Besides being a flavor enhancer, garlic contains a nutrient called allicin, which is formed when raw garlic is crushed. Allicin appears to have properties that block viruses from invading and damaging tissues. Crush garlic and use in salad dressings or rub it on chicken, fish or steak.

Chicken soup. Whatever people say about your grandmother's chicken soup is true. It will help you feel better if you happen to get the flu, but it will also boost your immunity if you consume it before an epidemic hits. It doesn't matter if comes from a can or direct you're your grandma's kitchen, chicken soup slows down the inflammatory process that makes colds and flu worse. It also helps control the symptoms of a cold, such as runny noses.

Have glass of red wine.. Quercetin, found in red wine, is a natural anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agent and has been shown effective in reducing flu symptoms and incidents by up to 30 percent. So feel free to drink a glass of wine at dinner with wild abandon!

Although there is no proof that eating well will definitely help you avoid the flu, it is historically documented that eating a well-balanced diet goes a long way in keeping your immune system in peak efficiency during cold and flu season. It doesn't take a lot of effort to eat well, and is a small price to pay for keeping yourself safe from harm.

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