Best Foods to Fight the Flu

With flu season creeping up around the corner, it’s time to think about boosting our bodies’ natural defenses. Sufficient sleep, regular exercise and careful hand-washing are all front-line defense tactics, but there’s serious firepower to be found in certain foods, too. We found a thorough list of the top 10 flu-fighting foods (as well as other natural immunity boosters) over on dlife.com; we’ve synopsized the top 10 foods below, but do check out the article, as it lists many other super-foods to naturally bolster your immune system. Read on, then stock up!

• Green chili peppers: For vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that boosts immune function and protects cells from environmental damage

• Sunflower seeds: For vitamin E, which enhances virus-fighting white blood cells

• Carrots: Full of carotenoids, which enhance immune function

• Cod liver oil: For vitamin D, an immune system regulator

• Yogurt: Full of beneficial bacteria that guard against attacks in the digestive tract

• Garlic: For sulfur, which stimulates immune system cellular production

• Dark chocolate: Full of bioflavonoids, which act like antioxidants

• Brazil nuts: For selenium, a mineral that aids white blood cells’ response

• Mushrooms: Used medicinally for centuries, mushrooms contain immunity-enhancing compounds

• Oysters: For zinc, an antioxidant that aids in the development of white blood cells and also protects cells from environmental damage