In order for the body to cope with the infection faster, it is necessary to eat properly. This will help moisturize the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Water leaches toxins from the body, which also helps to improve well-being. In addition to ordinary water, cranberry and other fruit drinks are useful.
During illness it is better not to overeat, choose only light meals. Do not eat fried, smoked and fatty. There are foods recommended for colds. They will be discussed in the article.
10. Salmon
Experts have found that vitamin D can protect against colds. British scientists from the University of Queen Mary, processed the results of 25 serious studies, they involved about 11 thousand volunteers.
They found that supplementing with vitamin D helps those who are deficient in it. Then the risk of getting SARS and the flu is reduced by 2 times, i.e. it works almost as effectively as vaccines.
In winter, many residents of Russia are deficient in vitamin D, because it is synthesized under the influence of sunlight. But it can also be obtained from products. Vitamin is found in fish, namely in sardines, salmon, and mackerel.
So that it does not collapse during cooking, it is advisable to extinguish it in a small amount of water. When boiling or frying, most of the vitamins disappear.
9. Brazil nuts
Together with food, each person should receive a small amount of selenium. This mineral enhances immunity, successfully fights inflammation, and has an antiviral effect. He also has other useful properties.
It is advisable to eat natural products that have not been subjected to heat treatment. Selenium is found in some types of fish (tuna, cod), in sunflower seeds, in eggs.
But especially a lot of it in Brazil nuts. If you eat 30 g of these nuts, you can get a daily dose of selenium. It promotes the production of cytokines, and they can neutralize the influenza virus.
8. Beef
With a cold, riboflavin should enter the body. Its other name is B2. It performs many functions. Including increases the speed of the reaction of the immune system to various infections, helps to produce antibodies that fight microorganisms.
It is abundant in animal products, especially in meat and liver. Therefore, a piece of meat with a cold will not hurt, provided that it is not fatty, i.e. lamb and pork should be discarded.
In addition, meat is a protein food. The body needs it, because It is a building material for immunity.
Immunoglobulins are antibodies necessary to fight viruses and bacteria. These are also special proteins. Therefore, at any stage of the common cold, you need to eat protein food, and this is meat, fish, poultry and seafood.
7. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato is one of the champions for vitamin C. It has a lot of beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A. These are powerful antioxidants.
It boosts immunity, protecting the body against colds or flu. From 100 g of sweet potatoes, we can get 40% of the daily norm of vitamin C. And it is necessary for the immune system to fight against viral and bacterial infections.
6. Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli have a lot of vitamin C, which we need to fight the infection. They also have glutathione. This antioxidant has an anti-inflammatory, detoxifying effect, helps to maintain immune cells.
Cauliflower contains vitamin K. It has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects when combined with fatty acids.
5. Garlic and onions
Onions and garlic do not have antiviral effects. But this does not mean that they are useless. 100 g of garlic contains 95% of the daily intake of vitamin B6. It is necessary for the production of T cells, which are necessary for the good functioning of the immune system.
There is a lot of manganese in garlic, it is important for the normal functioning of the immune system. There is alliin in garlic. As soon as you start chewing garlic, it turns into allicin. This is a natural antibiotic that inhibits the reproduction of harmful bacteria, increases the body's resistance to infection.
Onion also increases resistance to viruses, has a bactericidal effect. It has a lot of vitamin C, in terms of ascorbic acid, it is ahead of oranges.
4. Ginger
This is a universal remedy for colds. It boosts overall immunity. It consists of about 400 compounds. Ginger helps our body eliminate toxins. It can be used as a diaphoretic.
Useful ginger tea. To prepare it, you need 1 tsp. grated root. Pour boiling water over it, insist for half an hour, add honey or sugar to tea and drink. Cover yourself with a blanket and sweat.
But with an increase in temperature, especially if it has reached 38 degrees, it is better to refuse tea with ginger.
3. Honey
It has antibacterial properties. It contains a lot of sugars, contains acids, hydrogen peroxide, which can affect pathogenic microorganisms.
If the disease is serious, with complications, honey cannot replace the medicine, but it can cope with a mild cold.
This is a natural antiseptic. But do not put it in hot milk, because with strong heating, part of its vitamins disappears.
2. Chicken stock
With a cold, especially with the flu, your appetite often disappears. But it is impossible to refuse fresh chicken broth, it is fragrant and mouth-watering.
Chicken contains cystine. It is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes certain toxins.
It also has zinc. Scientists have found that, thanks to him, the duration of any catarrhal disease is reduced by 40%. There is a lot of zinc in boiled fish, wheat bran, meat, poultry.
1. Citrus fruits
They contain volatile, which have a bactericidal effect. Water with lemon juice is a good antipyretic.
Citrus has a lot of vitamin C, which is essential for the immune system. They became the "calling card" of vitamin C also because ascorbic acid is perfectly preserved in citrus fruits. It is protected by a dense peel and acid juice.
In citrus fruits there are bioflavonoids, in particular in the white part of the peel and zest. They increase the digestibility of ascorbic acid, and catechins increase the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria.