Four Flu Fighting Foods That You Probably Weren’t Aware Of

Most people seem to welcome the holiday season, even though it can be a hectic and expensive time of year. We love reacquainting ourselves with family and friends, getting cozy with our loved ones, and enjoying some well deserved time off from our jobs. I feel the same way about this time of year, though I take exception with one particular aspect of the season. As soon as November 1st rolls around I know that I’ve entered the danger zone, and it usually lasts until March. That’s the season that typically gives me at least one cold or flu bug, and I’m sure it’s the same for many of you.

For me, this time of year is also a time for research. Every holiday season I like look for new cold remedies that I wasn’t aware of before, and readjust my strategy for fighting and preventing these nasty bugs. This year I’ve discovered a few different foods that might help you recover faster from these viruses, or stop them from infecting you in the first place.

These aren’t your typical food remedies however. These are the flu busting foods that most people don’t talk about, or might not even be aware of. If you’ve struggled to fight these bugs in the past (and boy, who hasn’t?) this should give a few new remedies for your fight against the germs. Here a few of the most potent, and underrated cold remedies:

Raw Onions

No, I’m not talking about that ridiculous myth that claims onions will absorb bacteria out of the air. If you want to stay healthy, onions are far more useful in your belly than they are on your window sill. They contain quercetin, which is an effective antihistimine, and allicin, which is known to kill a wide variety of viruses and bacteria. And as an added bonus, raw onions will help you break down mucus and open up your nasal passages.

Sweet Potatoes

Aside from being a very nutrient dense food that is great for your overall well-being, sweet potatoes are absolutely brimming with vitamin A. While vitamin C gets all the credit for warding off colds and flus, we often forget that vitamin A is a crucial nutrient for maintaining the health of your skin and mucous membranes, both of which are important for keeping viruses from proliferating in your body.

Meat

Protein may be the biggest unsung hero in the fight against the common cold and the flu. It rarely comes up when people talk about cold remedies, even though it plays a crucial role in your immune system by forming antibodies, and helping your body produce immune cells. Unfortunately, many of us lose our appetite when we’re sick, and we miss out on those large servings of protein right when we need them the most.

Oysters

While many of us reach for oranges when we’re sick, a cheap can of oysters may be one of the most underrated foods for fighting off colds and flus. Aside from providing a hefty dose of vitamin D, oysters also contain the highest density of zinc compared to any other food, which most people don’t realize is an antimicrobial substance. Much like Vitamin A, zinc is found in high quantities in your skin and mucous, where it provides a first line of defense against pathogens. It’s also an important component in the production of white blood cells.

So there you have it. For most of us, getting sick during the holidays is practically a foregone conclusion, but that doesn’t mean we should give up the fight against these pathogens. We should never stop trying out different remedies, because our bodies need all the help they can get this time of year. Hopefully now you have a few new weapons in your medicinal arsenal, for your personal war against those dastardly cold and flu bugs

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition