Flu Fighting Diet Foods

Cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle. Yes, I woke up this morning with a scratchy throat and runny nose – this year’s cold is upon me. The good news is that I’m taking a day off work so I’ve got my comfy clothes on and a big cup of tea. The bad news is that everyone I know has had this nasty cold/flu and I somehow managed to avoid it until now. I’m not sure why I didn’t get it when everyone else did, but I think part of my flu-dodging luck can be attributed to my all-to-healthy diet these days. It’s nice to be reminded that dieting not only helps you to lose weight, but also improves your overall health.

In fact, eating a healthy diet has many health benefits that are often overlooked when weight loss is your primary focus. There are special diets for those with autism, gout, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, diets for smokers, diets for drinkers and much, much more. There are also some super foods that can help with other types of medical conditions as well. Some of these healthy diet foods can fight cancer and some, believe it or not, can help you avoid the flu. So, in tribute to my current condition I have looked into these flu fighting foods that you should incorporate into your diet if you want to avoid some of the more common wintertime ailments.

Citrus fruits, leafy greens and lean proteins are flu fighting diet foods that also help weight loss.

Avoiding the flu with the help of foods may be easier than you think. In fact, if you are dieting for weight loss, you may already be eating a diet that can help you and your family fight off the flu. Two important things to have in such a diet are lean proteins and a good selection of fruits – most notably citrus. These foods help keep your immune system strong. If they do not fend off the flu, they can certainly give your body a boost in fighting it when you do get it. Your symptoms will be lighter and the duration of the sickness could be much shorter.

There are other more specific foods that are known to help fight off both cold and flu. These would be mushrooms and many types of tea. Don’t forget to add honey to your tea. Barley and oats are good for you, and fit in with a flu fighting diet. Eat these in the morning for your breakfast. Other important foods are leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and other types of fruit other than citrus. Not only will you be fighting off the flu, you will feel better each and every day with these foods.

Think of foods that are high in vitamins D and B12, such as eggs and dairy. You also want to find foods high in healthy fats, such as fish, soy products, sunflower seeds and almonds. Other foods that are high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and acai are great for many health reasons, and may also help you fight off the flu. Some spices are great as well. Garlic is great for many reasons, and this is just one of them. Also think of ginger as something that can help keep you healthy.

Along with these great flu fighting foods, think of other things that will help keep you in top shape. Take care to eat breakfast each and every day even if you’re feeling under the weather. This helps keep your immune system strong. Take a good multi-vitamin, and exercise at least three times a week. All of the things that you should do during a weight loss program are going to benefit you in other ways too. That just might include skipping the flu this year while everyone around you is suffering.