Health
Natural Foods Fight Flu
Keeping your immune system as strong as possible is vital when battling colds or flu -- and just any food simply won't do, says London health expert Oona Mashta.
Mashta says the wrong diet can harm the immune system and may reduce energy levels. "Avoid junk food," she says. "Choose hot, tasty soups, which will wash out the virus and help to thin out mucus secretions from the nose and airways, soothing inflammation."
Sugar should also be avoided because it reduces the system's effectiveness and is conducive to building up mucus. She also recommends avoiding coffee because "it will sap your energy." As for alcohol, "It depletes the body's levels of vitamin C and strips the body of nutrients it is likely to be craving after fighting off a virus".
Further advice from Mashta: Citrus fruits are valuable sources of vitamin C, which releases antioxidants to dampen down cold symptoms. Oranges are fine, but kiwi fruit is an even better source of vitamin C. Both are loaded with folic acid to help build and maintain healthy red blood cells.
Mashta says the wrong diet can harm the immune system and may reduce energy levels. "Avoid junk food," she says. "Choose hot, tasty soups, which will wash out the virus and help to thin out mucus secretions from the nose and airways, soothing inflammation."
Sugar should also be avoided because it reduces the system's effectiveness and is conducive to building up mucus. She also recommends avoiding coffee because "it will sap your energy." As for alcohol, "It depletes the body's levels of vitamin C and strips the body of nutrients it is likely to be craving after fighting off a virus".
Further advice from Mashta: Citrus fruits are valuable sources of vitamin C, which releases antioxidants to dampen down cold symptoms. Oranges are fine, but kiwi fruit is an even better source of vitamin C. Both are loaded with folic acid to help build and maintain healthy red blood cells.
