Foods to fight off colds & flu

With the temperatures fluctuating back and forth from cold to warm, colds and flus are prevalent. In fact, I can confidently say that half of the people I work with have been sick in the last couple of weeks. Catching a cold or flu can really dampen your spirits and make everyday activities much more strenuous and exhausting.

Eating the right foods can help prevent or reduce the duration of your cold / flu. I'm sure you've all heard your parents tell you to load up on vitamin c when you start to feel a cold coming on and there's good reason for that. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system and can also act as an antioxidant by fighting off free radicals that cause cell damage. Other than oranges and orange juice, where can you get vitamins and antioxidants that fight off the sickies? Vegnews has a list of 5 plant foods you should be consuming to fight off the cold or flu. Let's talk briefly about them!

​ http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=9240&catId=2

1. Fungi - Fungi breaks down dead organic material and actually provides medication like penicillin to the body. Mushrooms actually boost the body's natural killer cell activity meaning the white blood cells in your body that are responsible for attacking virus' are strengthened. I may not be the biggest fan of mushrooms but it's hard to deny that they are superfoods in their own right. Enjoy cooked mushrooms and enjoy the health benefits that come along with them!
2. Kiwifruit - Kiwifruit can actually decrease the duration of a cold significantly and can prevent the cold from recurring in children and the elderly by 50%. Kiwis are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that help maintain a strong immune system and help to prevent / decrease the severity of a cold / flu. Enjoy kiwis often for their nutritional benefits!
3. Cruciferous Vegetables - This is a no brainer. Look online and you'll find hundreds of posts applauding the many benefits of cruciferous vegetables. Most notably, you'll learn of their anticancer properties which are highly regarded. Did you know that in most cases, cruciferous vegetables also strengthen the immune system and work to block the replication of cold and flu virus'? With an assortment of veggies including cabbage, broccoli, and brussel sprouts, getting your cruciferous veggie fix should be easy peasy! 
4. Garlic - Garlic if utilized properly can benefit the immune system in a variety of ways. It stimulates a variety of cells that are responsible for keeping us in tip top shape. It's important to crush / chop your garlic allowing the compounds to activate before using it. Try chopping it and leaving it for approximately 15 minutes before using it and you'll really get the immune system benefits.
5. Berries - Like cruciferous vegetables, berries are celebrated as being superfoods for our bodies. These vibrant and delicious little fruits provide a seriously large amount of vitamins and antioxidants responsible for fighting off free radicals. These antioxidants are also crucial to our immune system's ability to fight off the replication of cold and flu cells. It's easy to enjoy berries in a variety of ways so getting a few servings a day is so very easy.

It's important to eat a variety of colourful, healthy fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy immune system. These fruits and vegetables will help strengthen your immune system and hopefully keep you feeling healthy and cold / flu free as the temperatures fluctuate.


HAPPY VEG