In winters, cold and flu are some of the common problems people face. Cold and flu is not a severe problem but when this happens, it becomes torturing to handle cold and flu because you are not able to do anything or focus on anything even because you feel so physically exhausted and the running nose level up you irritation and exhaustion.
But how many times you thought of recovering with the help of certain foods that are easily available in every Indian kitchen? It is easy to pop a pill, but you should always focus on your meals and the types of foods you are having in different seasons. There are certain types of food that help to improve your immune system and keep you protected from the seasonal flu and cold, especially in winter.
Therefore, today we will discuss some of the foods that are helpful to prevent you from cold and flu during the winter season because this is the time when people are prone to develop the symptoms of flu and cold.
Foods to prevent Cold and Flu are:
1. Chicken soup:
When we are talking about foods that help to treat flu and cold, chicken soup is one of the most effective dishes. Chicken soup contains some vital fluids and nutrients that help to fight off viruses. Therefore, if someone is suffering from cold and flu, they should consume chicken soup (in case you are a vegetarian, we will suggest you some vegetarian options as well). Chicken soup also helps to reduce the inflammation that can increase the symptoms of cold and flu.
2. Vitamin C:
Citrus fruits are really good to have during winter because citrus fruits are an excellent source of powerful antioxidants and Vitamin C that helps to boost your immunity. You should have foods like broccoli, tomatoes, red capsicum, citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes, vitamin c supplements, sprouts and papaya.
3. Onions and garlic:
Both onion and garlic are used in various dishes to enhance the taste, but you can also use these two ingredients to fight off cold and flu effectively. By adding onions and garlic to your diet, you can kill the virus and flush out the toxins from your system.
4. Ginger:
Adrak is popularly used in tea, decoction and to prepare certain dishes and it is even used in tadka therefore ginger is used as a healing herb to prevent cold and flu. Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent cold and flu and also help to treat them. So, in case you are experiencing cold and flu symptoms, it is best to prepare a decoction with black pepper and salt and other herbs like tulsi, turmeric and jaggery.
5. Honey:
If you are suffering from a sore throat, honey can be an effective remedy, and honey is used for sore throat for thousands of years. Honey contains powerful antioxidants and antimicrobial properties to fight infections that occur because of fungi, bacteria and viruses. To prevent and treat sore throat honey is a great remedy because it coats your throat and therefore, you should have honey whenever you experience this problem.
6. Foods rich in zinc:
Foods that are rich in zinc are also effective in the cold like chickpea and pumpkin seeds. Therefore, it is good to have foods that are rich in zinc because it helps to treat a cold and quicken the recovery process. However, if you want to have zinc supplements in the form of tablets, it is better to first consult a doctor.
7. Tomatoes:
You can also prepare tomato soup, which is another alternative to chicken soup. Tomatoes are high in antioxidants lycopene, which helps to fight the imbalance of free radicals that occur because of infection.
If you are sick, it is better to take a rest and eat right to recover fast, also if you are experiencing a stuffy nose, prepare a decoction and inhale steam to feel better while sleeping, especially at night. It becomes really difficult to sleep with a congested chest and nose and therefore, make sure you inhale steam and drink decoction before you go to sleep so that you feel better.
You may not like having anything during a cold or flu but it is essential to have foods that contain antibacterial properties to overcome weakness and to boost your recovery rate, and now you know some of the best foods to have during a cold and flu so you can have these foods.