A little bit on the topic of flu
The flu is a term used to refer to a common infectious disease. You can get infected by the flu any time of the year, but autumn and winter seem to be the seasons when the flu has been noticed to cause runny noses and sore throats the most! Among the main symptoms, you will notice an increase in the body temperature, unexplainable weakness, headache, runny nose, and coughing. Luckily, all of these symptoms will be gone in a few days if you do make an effort to improve your condition. It seems that among the most successful treatment options a high fiber diet, herbal remedies and lots of hot fluids take their place!
Which 6 things will help you avoid the flu this season?
As you probably know, it is always better to prevent something that to treat it. All that it requires is a bit of your effort regarding improving your diet, drinking fluids and taking the right supplements!
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C deserves the first place when it comes to preventing the flu and maintaining the function of your immune system! In fact, Vitamin C has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which play a great role when it comes to defending your body against the flu. During the flu season make sure you increase your normal intake of Vitamin C. You can choose from a number of food products that are rich sources of Vitamin C – e.g. strawberries, oranges, lemons, broccoli, etc. But, if you want to make sure that you are taking the needed amounts of Vitamin C, you can always add a Vitamin C supplement to your diet.
2. Vitamin D
Taking Vitamin D through food and supplements is important because this is the only vitamin that our body is unable to produce. That is why it is essential to make sure you are taking the recommended amounts, especially during the flu season. Milk, yogurt, egg yolks, salmon, and cheese are just a few of Vitamin D rich food sources that you will want to include in your diet.
3. Probiotics
Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that can be found in our gut whose amounts you will need to increase by increasing the intake of dark chocolate, yogurt, and kefir. Probiotics play other important roles besides making sure that our immune systems is working the proper way – e.g. increase our body’s resistance to bacteria, promote good digestion and improve intestinal flora balance.
4. Zinc
Use shrimp, pumpkin seeds, beef, chicken thighs, etc. to increase your intake of Zinc through the flu season. Zinc is needed for your immune system to work properly, so you would want to increase its levels in your body.
5. Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have the ability to decrease the development of inflammation in our bodies. That is why it is essential to increase their levels by eating more salmon, spinach, soybeans, walnuts, and seafood. Besides preventing the flu, Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension.
6. Water
And last but not least – water! Drinking the recommended 8 glasses a day, will provide you the opportunity to feel the beneficial effects of water as it cleanses your body by eliminating the toxins and strengthens the immune system!
Conclusion
Staying home on a Friday night fighting the flu is not something that you want in your life. But luckily it is not something that cannot be prevented with a little effort. If you are wondering what you can do, we have the answer! One of the things that you can do is improve your diet! Simple as that, improving your diet can have many beneficial effects in maintaining your general health. All that you have to do is make sure you increase the normal amounts of certain compounds – e.g. Vitamin C, Vitamin D, probiotics, Omega 3 fatty acids, etc. And you can successfully increase their amounts through certain food products! And as always there are proper supplements that you can use as well to increase the amounts of Vitamin D and Vitamin C, which are among the best memory vitamins there are! Featured photo credit: Shutterstock via shutterstock.com
