FOODS TO EAT IF YOU FEEL SICK

PROBIOTIC-RICH DAIRY PRODUCTS

Yogurt with various kinds of healthy bacteria (such as Lactobacillus

acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum) are hitting the market strong,

and rightly so. With 10 trillion bacteria living in your intestines, it’s good

to keep a high supply of the good variety when you’re feeling sick,

especially when experiencing things such as vomiting and diarrhoea

which can wipe out some of your supply.

CHICKEN SOUP

No sickness-fighting list would be complete without chicken soup.

The amino acid cysteine present in chicken thins mucus in your

lungs and warm broth helps with the critical tasks of keeping you

hydrated and keeping your nasal passages moist.

BRAT

Your grandmother was right – the BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast)

diet is a brilliant cure for stomach ailments. The blandness of the foods

combined with their nutritional benefits – for instance, bananas whose

high potassium levels replenishes important electrolyte lost when you are

expelling liquids and toast which can help stabilize a turbulent digestive

system – actively work to help you feel better.

ANISE SEEDS

Anise seeds are often found in cookies but they can do more for you

than just taste good. Anise helps you expel mucus and eases a cough,

too. Try making a tea from a cup of crushed anise seeds and a cup of

boiling water. Flavour it with honey and cinnamon.

GARLIC

Sworn on by cooks across the globe, garlic is nearly a panacea food.

You’ll get the highest antioxidant content from garlic when eating it

raw, but as some people find this a bit off-putting, try adding garlic to

your food when sick or taking supplements.

VITAMIN C

Well, this one is a bit of a mixed bag. Recent research has shown that

drinking loads of orange juice and taking vitamin C supplements don’t

help in fighting the cold that much, but this vitamin rampant in citrus

fruits such as oranges, limes, and lemons might slightly reduce

how long you feel icky.

VITAMIN D

Though your body makes vitamin D when the sun hits your skin,

if you’re cooped up inside sick or in a cold climate you’re likely not

getting enough of this important nutrient. Many foods are now fortified

with vitamin D, the most notable being most milk products. (Bonus fact:

contrary to popular belief, drinking or eating dairy does not increase your

body’s mucus production! So have a glass of cow juice and, at the

same time, lower your chances of getting a respiratory infection.)

TEA

A warm cup of tea is perfect when you have the sniffles.

Though the most beneficial variety is green tea, all varieties made

from the Camellia sinensus plant (rather than herbal teas) pull their

weight as flu-fighters due to high amounts of the antioxidants called

catechins. A Japanese study even showed that people who regularly

take catechin supplements were 75% less likely to catch the flu.