Fight the Flu

You’ve heard that washing your hands is important. I’ll reiterate- wash, wash, wash your hands. In addition, you need to boost your immune system to build a ‘strong defense’ against infection. What foods fight flu? Here is a short list to keep you healthy during flu season.

1) Antioxidant-rich foods: The type of AO will vary according to the source, so don’t go on a ‘berry kick’. Eat the rainbow! Here is non-inclusive list, including some unexpected sources of antioxidants:

v   Blueberries

v   Raspberries

v   Bell Peppers

v   Carrots

v   Squash

v   Tomatoes

v   Granny Smith Apples

v   Pecans

v   Buckwheat honey (higher levels than clover honey)

v   Kale

v   Green or Black Tea

v   Resveratrol- red wine(keep it to 1 glass/day), grapes, grape juice, peanuts

2) Vitamin D is key to fighting illness. Try fortified dairy products or wild-salmon. Yogurt is also an excellent probiotic source, which keeps your digestive system humming along. Load up on the yogurt, but watch out for sugar. No more than 12-13g/6oz. Skip the fruit on the bottom and add your own.

  3) Selenium-rich foods

             > Brazil nuts

             > Seafood: clams, lobster, oysters, tuna

4) H-2-O is essential. Stay hydrated with water, NOT soda.

There are several other components to fighting the flu including adequate sleep and stress management. If you’re not sleeping, stressed out or both- hormones are out of whack, which impairs our immune system.

If your defenses are weak, you’re more likely to get sick when opportunity arises (which occurs with contagious diseases). If you’ve been building a strong defense with a balanced diet, enough sleep and moderate stress, you’ll be able to fight those stressors and infections, including the flu.  Stay healthy! sls