Eat Right to Avoid the Flu
It’s never too late to protect yourself (and your friends and family) from the flu. A flu shot may be your best line of defense, but you can also keep the flu virus at bay with help from these foods:
- Chicken soup. Once again, your mother was right. Chicken soup provides fluids that help fight off viruses, and it can reduce inflammation and other symptoms of the flu.
- Garlic. Compounds in garlic (also onions) known as allion and allicin have an antiviral impact. For maximum effect, chew a raw clove every three to four hours. If necessary, try chopping the clove into smaller pieces to swallow like pills.
- Pumpkin seeds. The zinc in pumpkin seeds is said to help white blood cells fight off disease.
- Citrus fruits. The vitamin C found in most citrus fruits (as well as red bell peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and other foods) can reduce cold and flu symptoms by up to 25 percent.
- Blueberries. Antioxidants are more plentiful in blueberries than in lots of other fruits and vegetables. Eat half a cup a day during flu season. Fresh blueberries are best, but even frozen ones offer strong benefits.
