In this article we will be taking a look at a handful of simple foods that help fight colds. Find out what food choices are best to boost your weak immune system and kick that cold into touch!
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Foods That Help Fight off Colds
Your head is pounding, your nose won’t stop running, your bones ache and you can’t stop sneezing – it’s cold virus time yet again!
While cold symptoms vary, all versions of the common cold are respiratory infections caused by more than 200 possible viruses…that’s a lot, isn’t it?
Think about it for a minute – if you have a weak immune system, you are opening the doors for over 200 viruses to walk into your bloodstream!
Thankfully, there are numerous foods and nutrients that can play helpful roles in prevention or treatment of pesky viruses.
So let’s take a closer look at them…
Sardines
New studies have concluded that the high levels of omega-3 fats in sardines are an excellent way to fix a weak immune system. Apparently these fish fats do a great job of boosting your functioning of immune cells.
Sardines are actually a great choice if you are going for omega-3 fats, as a three-ounce serving of canned sardines provides 1,259 milligrams of omega-3 fats (much more than larger fish like trout).
Garlic
Yeah okay – it’s a bit of a bind putting up with the smelly breath all day (especially if you are in work!), but allicin, the major active component found in garlic, is wicked for taking on the common cold.
This allicin gives garlic it’s antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. It’s also pretty awesome for healthy gut flora, which rids the body of toxins, bacteria and viruses.
So forget about the smell – get on the garlic (besides, you don’t want to get within breathing distance of someone with a cold anyway!).
Oysters
Got to be honest with you here – not my first choice of foods when I’m 100% healthy, let alone feeling ill and queasy!
But, Oysters contain more of the nutrient Zinc per serving than any other food…and zinc is pretty handy when it comes to colds.
According to research published in a Canadian medical journal in 2012, zinc appears to shorten the duration of cold symptoms in adults.
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Food Rich in Vitamin C
Foods rich in vitamin C still top the list when it comes to PREVENTION of cold viruses…although recently, arguments have arisen regarding how useful it is when you’ve already succumbed to the illness.
Simply look at your diet and ask yourself – are you eating enough fruit and veg every day to support the healthy function of your immune system?
You’d be surprised at how many people are not!
Dark green vegetables, peppers, kiwi fruits, citrus fruits – make sure your daily diet is up to scratch.
Oats and Barley
Oats and barley are well known for keeping us full and satisfied due to the amount of water-soluble fiber called beta-glucans they contain. What most people don’t know is that this fiber can increase the number and function of protective immune cells.
Simply put – beta-glucans do a great job of boosting your immune system!
Eggs
I don’t know about you, but, the last thing on my mind when I’m feeling under the weather…is cooking something complicated…
So how about eggs?
Seriously – we’re back onto the zinc subject once again!
Yeah, eggs provide you with a decent dose of zinc, which we already know, helps shorten the duration of cold symptoms in adults.
Why not try scrambled eggs – a quick sprinkle of Aromat and bang them in the microwave for 2 minutes (lovely on toast!).
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Good Old Chicken Soup!
Well I had to include this one really, didn’t I?
I’d go as far as saying that 99.9% of you reading this have heard those immortal words from your mother: “Chicken soup is the best thing for a cold”
Well, I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s the BEST thing for a cold…but mommy was partly right!
Research shows chicken soup calms congestion and mucous. On top of that, the hot broth prevents dehydration and can soothe a sore throat.
Listen to your mother guys – listen to your mother!
Cold Green Tea
Can’t really put this one in the food category – but it’s interesting enough to include here anyway…
Green tea is known for being jam-packed full of antioxidants. Now, these antioxidants are pretty awesome at helping out your immune system, even when you’re already sick.
Why drink it cold?
Well, the hot water tends to kill off a portion of the antioxidants.
The Best Foods For a Cold
Now it’s over to you – do you know of any foods that help fight colds that we have not covered here today?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
Please leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
