as many of you know, it is almost flu season and many people i know are already getting the bug!
below is an article i read in forbes that can help us all stay healthy.
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Top Superfoods
It turns out that many of the foods mom made when you were sick also can help you fight off a cold. Tea with honey is a combo that packs antibacterial and antiviral polyphenols and can aid in treating a sore throat or bacterial infection, Grotto says. Warm broth, full of phytochemicals leaked by steeping vegetables, may have antibacterial properties, too.
One way to make sure you're getting enough of these types of foods in your diet is to avoid skipping meals, Hark says. If you always eat breakfast, you can regularly aid your immune system by eating oats. Skip it and you're not giving yourself the fuel you need to recover from an overnight fast, potentially compromising your ability to fight off infection. When you're feeling run down, you're also more likely to grab whatever is available to keep you going, such as a nutritionally lacking donut, creating a vicious circle of bad eating.
If you're spending most of your time eating out, order a side salad packed with spinach leaves--not a Caesar. Skip the side of pasta and order a double helping of colorful veggies. Going out for drinks? Hark suggests having a screwdriver, which will at least give you a dose of vitamin C. While it's not clear how much of an impact vitamin C has on the common cold, it is an antioxidant that the body uses to stay healthy.
Mix It Up
What's more, by adding nutritious fare to your diet, you might be getting a bigger benefit than you realize. Research is beginning to show that when some foods are combined they produce a healthy synergy, says Wendy Bazilian, a doctor of public health, registered dietitian and author of The SuperFoodsRx Diet. Pairing a tomato with a bit of olive oil, for instance, may improve absorption of the antioxidant lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that's been demonstrated to have protective properties.
Susan Atkins, 50, a San Diego-based accountant, has been following a diet full of disease-fighting, healthy "superfoods," such as peppers, nuts, grains and sweet potatoes, since May. Not only has the switch eliminated her acid reflux and gastrointestinal problems, but it's also given her a lot more energy.
"Within a week," she says, "I noticed a difference."
But if you can't stand cabbage, don't force yourself to eat it just to keep a cold away. Focus on adding healthy foods you like to your diet. Many experts believe that the act of enjoying your food also can have a therapeutic effect on the body.
"Go for convenience, accessibility and, first and foremost," Grotto says, "it's got to taste good."
source: http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/21/health-cold-flu-forbeslife-cx_avd_0123health.html
