Hey there, viewers! Tired of sneezing all day? Well bad news, cold and flu season is right
around the corner. While this time of year is a drag for all of us, there are some upsides.
How about all the delicious food you get to eat? Foods that boost your health and prevent sickness.
Today, we’re going to talk about superfoods to eat during the cold and flu season.
Are citrus foods good? What about bone broth and ginger? Can blueberries and spinach help you beat
a cold? We’re talking all that AND more... 1. Citrus
Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are particularly helpful in keeping away the
flu. They come packed with vitamin C. Research has shown that higher doses of vitamin C can be
very helpful in bringing down cold symptoms. During the cold and flu season, most indoor
places are breeding grounds for germs that cause health-related issues. If people are
sneezing or coughing, there’s a high chance you might end up catching whatever they have.
If you’re doing an intense workout, citrus fruits can also help regulate your fluids as well as
muscle contractions. The potassium present in citrus gives you this particular benefit.
Citrus fruits are also a great source of flavonoids. These are known to be beneficial
in terms of avoiding the cold and flu. They have a lot of antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Which is your favorite citrus fruit? Do you eat it on its own, juice it, or add it to a smoothie?
Share your preferences with the Bestie community in the comments below...
2. Bone Broth Bone broth has become popular
over the last few years, and for good reason. While the common cold cannot be completely cured,
bone broth can reduce your symptoms and drive away a lot of the discomfort.
Bone broth is made by simmering the bones from beef, pork, poultry or fish. This happens over the
course of a few hours in hot water. The idea is to extract all the minerals from the bone marrow.
The minerals that form the broth will help get you back on your feet. These include magnesium,
calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. These minerals are key to maintaining your health.
Apart from helping you deal with cold and flu, bone broth can also help joint and muscle pains.
Looking for answers on all the latest health and wellness news? Hit that “subscribe” button,
and join our millions of followers. Stay up to date on all our great Bestie content…
3. Ginger Ginger comes packed with compounds that
have antimicrobial properties, which help drive away the sickness from your body. This is why
ginger tea has become widely popular, especially when it comes to sore throat and sickness.
Ginger also comes packed with antioxidants, which boost the immune system. They also prevent cell
damage and reduce the chances of inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger
also help bring down the risk of inflammation. Fresh ginger can also help with any respiratory
issues you may have. The antiviral particles in ginger are specifically what helps with this.
It also ensures the virus does not reproduce. 4. Blueberries
Blueberries are a rich source of vitamins, which are crucial in preventing coughs and colds,
as well as treating them. These berries also have the highest
antioxidant levels of any vegetable or fruit. The antioxidants reduce oxidative stress,
as well as any damage caused by free radicals. Research also suggests that
flavonoids in blueberries reduce your risk of catching the common cold by 33%.
You can eat blueberries on their own or add them to your fruit salad.
A blueberry smoothie is also a great option. You can even add it to your oatmeal breakfast.
The choices are endless for blueberries. 5. Spinach
This one is going to get a mixed reaction. I know a lot of you don’t like spinach. But
it’s just so healthy for you. Spinach is one of those superfoods with many health benefits.
For one, it’s packed with fiber, which helps your digestion and keeps you full.
More importantly, spinach is packed with vitamin C. As you already know,
this is important for anybody trying to fight a cold. Even if you catch the flu, the vitamin
C in spinach can help reduce your symptoms. Spinach also has other beneficial compounds
like polyphenols. These will ensure there is no damage to your cells, while also taking care of
any inflammation your body is suffering. Now while it is possible, nobody’s telling
you to eat spinach raw. You can add it to a soup. If you’re not a big fan of that,
you can add your spinach to an omelette so you get both vitamins and protein.
If you just got over its taste, spinach could really save you from getting sick.
Before we move ahead, here’s another video you might like. Are you worried about your diet?
Watch and learn more about the 11 foods people eat that can kill you. Now back to foods that are
great during cold and flu season. 6. Garlic
Garlic has been used in foods for many centuries as a form of traditional medicine,
especially herbal medicine. Garlic contains a compound called allicin. This is
a key ingredient that not only gives it flavor, but also its strong smell. Research has shown
that consuming garlic regularly can reduce your chances of catching a cold by nearly two-thirds.
Garlic can help boost your immune system, so it’s best to add it to your food. Not only will
it make your food taste better, it will also help your body fight off any symptoms of cold or flu.
7. Salmon Salmon is rich in protein,
which helps you build muscle. This makes it the perfect food to eat when you’re sick. It gives
you the proteins you need to recover. Salmon is really easy to eat. Since it’s pretty soft, you
can easily digest it and get the protein you need. More importantly, salmon is packed with omega-3
fatty acids. These particular compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, which will help
your immune system fight off a virus. 8. Water
It may seem counter intuitive, but water can be equally important to help you deal with sickness.
When your body becomes sick with the flu or any other disease, it gets dehydrated. This is why
your doctor would insist you keep the fluids up. Apart from dealing with hydration, water can
also be a natural detox. Drinking water will help remove harmful pathogens from your body.
If there is any congestion from the flu, water can break it up and prevent infections.
9. Mushrooms Mushrooms can help boost your immune system.
Whether it’s button or shiitake, the mushroom is a great source for polysaccharides. This particular
compound is key to getting your immune system working and preventing you from catching a cold.
Another plus that comes with mushrooms is that they help control white blood cells.
This is pretty important. Your white blood cells will go to war for your body,
protecting your immune system and keeping you from an infection.
10. Yogurt Your gut plays the most important role
for your body’s immune system. This is why your gut needs to be crawling with healthy bacteria.
They prevent you from getting sick. Yogurt is a great source of probiotics,
which can help with all this bacteria. In a study conducted among sick children, results
show the group that took the probiotics felt better two days faster than the placebo group.
The study also showed that the probiotic group experienced 55% less severity in their symptoms
compared to the kids with the placebos. Did these superfoods catch your interest?
Well, the world of superfoods is fascinating. So many to try. Are you trying to change your diet
around? Let’s keep the conversation going with a couple more food-related videos, shall we?
Check out our video on the Top 10 Superfoods For Your Brain.
You can also try 20 Superfoods You Should Eat To Lose Weight Fast
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about food and nutrition. Will you
be eating any of these superfoods after watching this video? Let us know in the comments below!