Choosing well what to eat during a flu can greatly improve well-being, as it is an excellent way to strengthen the immune system, helping to relieve some of the symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, body pain and feeling of tiredness. During the flu, it is also important to increase calorie and fluid intake to help the body fight the virus, and also to increase urine output, which facilitates the release of toxins that may form.
Also, drinking herbal tea with antimicrobial properties, such as star anise tea and cinnamon tea, or with decongestant properties, such as chamomile and echinacea, can be good strategies. to fight flu symptoms more easily. Discover other natural teas that help fight flu symptoms.
1. Vegetable soup or chicken soup
Having a vegetable soup helps to fluidize secretions and expectorate more easily. In addition, the steam from hot vegetables also helps to unclog your nose.
Chicken soup is a great example of a good flu soup because it has vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and protein, which help the body regain strength and increase the resistance of the immune system. In addition, the soup contains sodium and potassium, minerals that help regulate body temperature, being useful in case of fever.
2. Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables increase the amount of water, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc, making the body able to react better to the virus by increasing the body's defenses. The most suitable are citrus fruits due to the high content of vitamin C, such as strawberry, orange, pineapple and lemon that reinforce immunity. See other foods that also improve the body's defenses.
In addition, it is also interesting to increase the consumption of vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots and tomatoes, because they are sources of beta-carotene, an antioxidant compound that strengthens the immune system, helping to fight infections.
Loss of appetite is a common flu symptom that can cause the illness to last longer. Therefore, the consumption of nutritious foods, easy to digest and rich in water, such as those mentioned above, helps in the recovery of the flu.
3. Herbal teas
Tea is a great home remedy for flu because in addition to hydrating, it is a drink that is drunk hot and the steam helps to decongest the nose. A good example of tea is chamomile, echinacea, peppermint and ginseng tea, which can be taken or inhaled to help clear your nose.
In the case of inhalation, one of the most recommended teas for this purpose is eucalyptus and to perform the inhalation, prepare the tea and tilt your head over the cup, breathing its steam.
Cinnamon tea with honey is also a great solution because it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in the treatment of flu. To prepare, just boil 1 cup of water with 1 cinnamon stick for 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool, strain and then drink 3 to 4 times a day. Honey with propolis can be added to warm tea to help lubricate the throat and reduce inflammation if you have a cough.
Another option for flu tea is star anise, which contains shikimic acid, which has antiviral properties and is used in the manufacture of Tamiflu.
Check out in the following video how to prepare the best natural remedy for flu:
4. Yogurt or fermented milk
Consumption of yogurts and milks fermented with probiotics, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, helps to strengthen the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, stimulating immune system cells and thus helping to fight the flu.
5. Natural spices
Some spices such as garlic, mustard seeds and pepper are useful for decongesting the nose, as they help to dissolve phlegm, in addition to helping to reduce fever and body aches. Other spices that can also help fight flu symptoms are rosemary, oregano and basil, which can be used to season soups, meats, sauces, vegetables and pasta.
