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Best Foods for Flu Symptoms

When you're coming down with the flu, the staple of food remedy to battle those symptoms always has been chicken soup. Soup feels good going down, and your nasal passages reap the awards that the steam produces. But chicken soup isn't the only food to battle your flu symptoms, and other foods offer additional nutritional value.

Various fruits and vegetables provide support to your immune system while conquering those nagging flu symptoms, and the best part is that these foods also battle disease-causing cells in your body, not just the flu.

  1. Garlic

    • Garlic includes allicin, an oily substance, giving the root its anti-oxidant properties. Research has shown that taking a garlic supplement could prevent or shorten flu symptoms. The study, done by Harvard Hospital in England, tested 146 volunteers by giving them one garlic tablet per day for 12 weeks. The results showed that the volunteers either didn't get the flu or had fewer flu symptoms for a shorter period of time during the testing.

      Garlic supplements come in the forms of garlic powder, oil and extracts. These supplements haven't been tested on kids so consider utilizing the whole food in measurements of one or two cloves. Natural garlic in your and your children's diet may be beneficial in the long run.

    Green Tea

    • Green tea also contains anti-oxidants and supports the immune system. Studies by the University of Florida show that green tea has lessened the effects of flu. The studies focus on an amino acid in the tea's properties that helps to improve the body's immune system. The immune booster is thought to fight illness-carrying bacteria and various viruses.

      Sip green tea periodically, but don't over-consume. Each 8-oz. cup possesses half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. If caffeine is a concern for you, drink decaffeinated green tea. When preparing tea, steep it for two to three minutes to maximize its anti-oxidant effects.

    Fruits and Vegetables

    • Fruits and vegetables always have had health benefits, and they can help you to fight the flu, too. Mushrooms contain immune boosters by helping to destroy disease-causing cells.

      Other flu fighters include red peppers, broccoli, oranges and strawberries. All of these fruits and vegetables include vitamin C, which has been lauded in the battle against flu symptoms. The vitamin also provides cell-protecting anti-oxidants and supports your body's immune system.

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