7 cheap foods that are great for treating colds

Wash your hands, don't touch your face, wear a mask when going out... these rules are always passed on by word of mouth during flu season, especially when the weather this year is so harsh because of El Nino.

However, these are only secondary prevention measures. What few people know is that the foods you eat every day can also help increase your body's ability to prevent the flu effectively. Below are 7 cheap, easy-to-find, but extremely effective foods:

1. Yogurt

Probiotics have more uses than you think. They help the gut balance beneficial bacteria with harmful bacteria, which, according to recent scientific studies published in the journal Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, is closely related to enhancing immune function and reducing the risk of infection. Therefore, if you want to increase the good bacteria in your gut, look for yogurt and kefir. Unsweetened yogurt is best, although it may not be as easy to eat as yogurt with sugar. In addition, functional foods that regulate the gut are also a good source of food.

2. Chicken soup

Chinese chicken soup or chicken broth contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties that prevent white blood cells from gathering in the lungs, which means it can help ease the symptoms of colds and flu, a recent study has found. What's more, chicken soup is easy to eat when you're feeling tired, and can quickly replenish your body with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, boosting your immune system.

Plus, when you’re sick, both the fever and the labored breathing can dehydrate you, and a bowl of chicken soup can help rehydrate you quickly.

3. Green tea

When you are sick, it is important to rehydrate your body. But even if you feel completely normal and healthy, the high doses of polyphenols and catechins in green tea help fight viruses and stimulate the immune system very effectively. These are the two most powerful antioxidants EGCG today. According to doctors, green tea can help and support many organs at the same time such as the heart, brain, joints, metabolism...

4. Ginger

Not only causing stuffy nose and headache, flu also makes the patient feel nauseous, vomiting and diarrhea. If you have all these symptoms, eat a few slices of ginger immediately. Compounds in ginger such as galanolactone can activate through the central nervous system, affect serotonin levels in the body and eliminate nausea. Because of this effect, ginger is a very effective food against motion sickness. Try drinking ginger tea, spicy ginger candy or biting a slice of ginger to make the body feel comfortable and relieved.

5. Citrus fruits

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can effectively destroy free radicals in the body. Whether vitamin C can fight the flu is still controversial, but it is definitely a good idea to eat vitamin C-rich foods year-round, especially when you are feeling weak or run down. Top choices include citrus fruits, strawberries, pineapple, or vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Vitamin C also seems to be most effective in people who exercise regularly.

6. Sardines

Most of the vitamin D we get in our bodies comes from sunlight, and in the winter, when the weather is cloudy, this supply is obviously reduced significantly. Therefore, if you do not eat foods rich in vitamin D, your body will certainly lack calcium in the winter. Not only that, vitamin D is also an essential component of the immune system. Inside the immune cells, there are cells that absorb vitamin D. Doctors advise taking fish oil, eating sardines and herring to supplement this vitamin, and even vitamin D supplements if necessary.

7. Beef

Zinc can enhance the body's ability to produce white blood cells, which are the leading warriors of the immune system. Many believe that zinc will help shorten the time of flu symptoms, making the disease go away faster. Foods rich in zinc include beef, chicken, lamb, spinach, sesame seeds, lentils...

According tovietnamnet