Immunity Boosting Foods, and Other Ways to Help You Fight the Flu This Season

Flu season is upon us, so it’s our responsibility to fight!

Flu season is something we all dread, whether we are athletes trying to stay trim during the winter, or mothers who know that all it takes is one snotty hand to ruin the lives of an entire classroom of children. That being said, even if you get the flu shot every year its important to do everything you can to try and keep yourself, and everyone in your household healthy. Every year, between 5 and 20 percent of the US population comes down with the flu, so chances are that even if you don’t contract it, you will have come in contact with it.

First off, you should take care of yourself in general. This means getting enough sleep every night, washing your hands regularly, taking Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin C, and paying attention to your stress levels. Believe it or not, getting stressed out or feeling run down is the easiest way to suppress your immunity.

READ MORE: The Difference Between The Common Cold and Winter Allergies

Aside from that, you should pay special attention to what you eat, and try and eat foods that boost your immunity to give your body the best fighting chance. The following foods are all considered ‘healthy’, but these specific examples will help your immune system stay in top shape during the coming cold and flu season:

Green tea

Nuts

Garlic and onions

Yogurt and probiotics

Citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)

Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

Seeds (like sunflower and pumpkin seeds)

Bell peppers

Sweet potatoes

Ginger and turmeric

Spinach and broccoli

Papaya

Oats and barley

Chicken soup

Mushrooms

Eating these foods won’t protect you completely, but they will insure that your immune system has a fallback plan when it faces all the germs out there this winter.