What to eat with the flu, cold or influenza (to heal faster)

Choosing what you should eat during a cold, flu or influenza episode can improve a lot, it is an excellent way to strengthen the immune system, helping to relieve some symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, body pain and tiredness , favoring the recovery of the organism. During the flu, it is also important to increase the intake of calories and liquids to help the body fight the virus, keeping the body hydrated and favoring the elimination of toxins that can be formed through the urine.

In addition to this, taking herbs with antimicrobial properties, such as the case of star anise or cinnamon, which have decongestant properties, such as manzanilla or echinacea, can be good strategies to combat the symptoms of la flu more easily. Know other natural techniques that help relieve flu symptoms.

The foods that should be included in the diet when you have a cold, flu or influenza are:

1. Vegetable soup or broth de pollo

Drinking a soup helps to fluidize the secretions and to expectorate more easily. In addition, the steam from these foods that are consumed hot also helps to uncover the nose.

Chicken broth or chicken broth are excellent options for this type of respiratory illness, as they contain vitamin A, C and E and proteins, which together help the body to recover strength and increase the resistance of the immune system. Additionally, the soup contains sodium which helps to regulate body temperature, being useful in cases where fever is present.

2. Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables increase the amount of water, fiber and vitamins C, A and zinc, making the body able to react better to the virus, increasing the body’s defenses. The most suitable are citrus fruits due to their high content of vitamin C, such as las fresas, las piñas, el kiwi and las naranjas, for example. See other foods that also improve body defenses.

In addition to this, it is also important to increase the consumption of vegetables, such as coles, zanahoria and tomatoes, as they are excellent sources of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that works against infections and stimulates the immune system.

Lack of appetite is a common symptom when you have the flu or influenza, causing the illness to last longer. For this reason, the consumption of nutritious foods, easy to digest and rich in water, as mentioned above, will make recovery faster.

3. Té de hierbas

Herbs such as manzanilla, echinacea, mint piperita and ginseng are excellent options to alleviate the discomfort caused by a cold, flu or influenza. These are on the ground keeping the body hydrated, as well as being a drink that is taken hot, because the vapors that emanate help to decongest the nose and fluidize the secretions.

In the case of inhalation, one of the most recommended for this purpose is the eucalyptus one, and to perform the inhalation, prepare it and tilt your head over the cup, breathing in its steam.

Cinnamon with myel is also an excellent solution, as it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, helping to treat flu symptoms. To prepare this tea, simply boil 1 cup of water with a cinnamon branch for 10 to 15 minutes. Luego, dejar etibiar, paste and drink up to 3 to 4 times a day. In addition, milk with oil can be added to cinnamon when it is warm to help lubricate the throat and reduce inflammation.

Another option to improve the malaise of the flu is star anise, which contains shikimic acid and has antiviral properties, being used for the elaboration of the Tamiflu drug.

See how to prepare the best natural remedy for the flu in the continuation video:

4. Yogurt or fermented milk

The consumption of yogurts and milk fermented with probiotics, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, helps to improve the intestinal flora and strengthen the immune system by activating the body’s defense cells, shortening the duration of the cold, flu or influenza.

5. Natural condiments

Some condiments like el ajo, la mostaza and la pimienta are useful to decongest the nose, they can help to dissolve the catarro and las flemas. In addition, it helps to reduce the fever and relieve pain in the body. Other condiments that can also combat the symptoms of a cold, the flu or the influenza are romero, oregano and albahaca. All these condiments can be used to season foods, including meats, soups, salsas, vegetables or pastas, for example.

See how to strengthen the immune system in the continuation video: