As cold and flu season quickly approaches, it’s time to think about prevention. While frequent hand washing is often the first line of defence against germs, you can greatly enhance your body’s ability to fight off infections by choosing the right foods. Many foods come naturally equipped with immune boosting and antiviral qualities and the good news is these foods can be easily incorporated into your daily menus. Here are some suggestions:

1. Choose foods rich in Vitamin C: Since we cannot store vitamin C in our bodies, we need to consume it regularly. We should be eating 5-6 servings daily of fruits and vegetables which are rich in this vital vitamin. Such foods include bell peppers (especially red), cabbage, broccoli, leafy greens, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, and berries.

2 Eat more garlic and onions: Garlic is a highly esteemed vegetable to many cultures around the world and for good reason. In fact, its use as a vegetable and as a medicine dates back to 5 000 BC. Garlic has a positive effect on the immune system.

3 Eat brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables. including winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. Additional sources include cooked spinach, apricots, and mangoes.

4 Drink tea: And in particular, drink green tea.

5 Get plenty of sleep and stay away from highly processed foods. — http://articles.cookingcache.com