These 9 foods will help protect you from colds and flu

These 9 foods will help protect you from colds and flu
Photos: CC0 Public Domain / Pexels, Pixabay – postchiangmai0; Colourbox.de

Cold and flu viruses are in peak season again. And Corona has also been involved for several years when it comes to respiratory diseases. Hopefully, anyone who hasn’t been infected this fall will continue to stay healthy. These nine foods help keep the immune system intact.

A cold is not unusual in the cold months – but it is always annoying. We have therefore put together nine foods for you that can help protect you from a cold or even the flu. Although colds and flu are different illnesses, the symptoms are very similar. That’s why many home remedies help in both cases.

1. Natural protection against colds: lemon

Because of its high vitamin C content (25 mg per 100 ml), lemon is an effective way to strengthen our immune system – and prevent the flu or cold. But be careful: a hot lemon is less effective than fresh lemon juice.

Also an all-rounder in the household: citric acid.
Fresh lemon juice contains more vitamin C than hot lemon. (Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / stevepb)

Vitamin C is heat sensitive and also water soluble. Although it only decomposes at around 190 °C, the content still decreases by 30 to 40 percent during cooking and storage. Fresh lemon in lukewarm water – i.e. lemon water – is therefore better at preventing colds or flu than hot lemon.

Also read: 8 common mistakes that make colds worse.

2. Sea buckthorn to prevent colds

Sea buckthorn grows in East and West Asia as well as in Europe.
You can even grow sea buckthorn in your own garden. (Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Uschi_Du)

Sea buckthorn also contains a lot of vitamin C and many other beneficial ingredients. The plant not only strengthens your immune system, but is also good for the eyes (beta-carotene) and prevents magnesium, iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, which can affect vegetarians and vegans. You can consume the berries in the form of sea buckthorn oil or juice – or plant and harvest sea buckthorn yourself.

3. Ginger to prevent colds

The taste may be a bit spicy, but it’s unbeatable when it comes to the ingredients: Ginger contains a lot of vitamin C, healthy essential oils and many other healthy active ingredients. The root inhibits the reproduction of viruses, stimulates blood circulation and circulation and can therefore protect you from a cold.

We have a delicious recipe for ginger tea and show you how you can grow ginger yourself.

4. Onion to protect against colds

store onions
Onions are considered a natural home remedy for a wide variety of ailments. (Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Couleur)

What the turmeric bulb is to Southeast Asia, the onion is probably to Europe: For centuries we have used it as a natural home remedy for insect bites, sore throats and earaches. It has anti-inflammatory, germicidal, antibacterial and pain-relieving effects. By the way, you particularly benefit from its healthy ingredients if you eat the onion raw.

If you have already caught the flu or a cold, homemade cough syrup made from onions and honey will help.

5. Eat garlic

It is well known that garlic can become unpleasant if consumed in excess – especially for others (keyword: bad breath). If you want to avoid a cold or flu, you can accept this because: The tuber contains a lot of vitamin C, has an antibacterial effect and, among other things, against viruses and fungi.

Therefore: Use plenty of fresh garlic when cooking or – the more unusual variant – prepare the nodules as garlic tea.

6. Rosehip for a strong immune system

rosehip jam
Rose hips contain an enormous amount of vitamin C. (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay / manfredrichter)

The leader when it comes to vitamin C content is the rose hip. It contains 20 times as much vitamin C as lemon. So it’s ideal for strengthening the immune system. Rose hips taste best as a tea made from their peels.

You often read that you can also eat rose hips raw (although the vitamin C content is significantly higher). If you want to try it, you should remove the seeds as they can itch and irritate.

7. Which fruits and vegetables for colds?

Fruits and vegetables strengthen your immune system. The antioxidants it contains protect our cells from harmful free radicals. Antioxidants include vitamins, minerals and secondary plant substances that we consume through food. Seasonal apples and potatoes as well as blueberries and tomatoes in summer are particularly rich in antioxidants.

You can find out which fruits and vegetables are currently in season in our seasonal calendar: now, in the winter months, for example, there are edible roots and tubers.

8. Chili protects against colds

Spicy food is healthy. To prevent colds and flu, peppers are particularly helpful: chili, hot peppers and sweet peppers contain capsaicin, which has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.

For harissa you need dried chilies.
Pepper plants such as chili in particular strengthen the immune system. (Photo: CC0/pixabay/Hilei)

Horseradish, mustard and wasabi are also helpful against colds – they sharpen with mustard oil glycosides. These have an anti-inflammatory effect, and the essential oils they contain also clear the respiratory tract.

9. Drinking water helps against colds

Drinking enough water also strengthens your immune system. It’s best to use water or tea – they help your body eliminate pathogenic toxins. Thanks to our high drinking water quality, tap water is the first choice: This way you avoid unnecessary plastic waste and also save money. A good guideline is around two liters of fluid per day, although the ideal amount to drink varies from person to person.

It is better to avoid alcohol as it can weaken the immune system.

Read more on Techzle\.com:

  • Vitamin D: Why we need it and when we should take it
  • Multivitamin preparations for children: often too high a dosage
  • Leave the heating off? Doctor explains when freezing makes you sick

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