Foods that help with the cold or flu

Foods that make you feel better:

• Fluids. water, decaf tea, fruit juice, soup. Liquids help to hydrate, and thin mucous secretions.
• Chicken soup helps with mucous secretions.
• Fruit, especially citrus, to increase vitamin C. Grapefruit helps detoxiy the liver.
• Spicy food promotes drainage of the sinuses. Hot Mexican or Indian foods are good congestion busters.
• Fresh, raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains, garlic, pulses, beans, small helpings of fish, nuts and seeds. These foods appear to increase resistance to infection and improve vitality.
• BRAT – banana, rice, apple/sauce, tea- to control diarrhea symptoms.
• Any other food that you can keep down! (except – see below)
• My personal choice – hot Liptop or green tea steeped lemon and honey.

Foods that make it worse (i.e., what to avoid):

• Dairy products like cream based soups, ice cream, pudding or milk as they increase phlem and congest sinuses.
• Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as these are dehydrating.
• High-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.

See also Chicken soup for the flu as a tandem post, in participation of b5media’s Science and Health Channel Theme Day: Food, hosted by Ruth of Eating Fabulous]

[Source: Dietician.com; Holistic Online]

Tags: Comfort food, flu, colds