FOODS TO EAT IF YOU START FEELING SICK

ORANGE FOOD

Beta-carotene is the cause of orange flesh in foods like carrots

and sweet potatoes. It’s also what our bodies convert into vitamin A

a critical nutrient for healthy mucous membranes like those in your

nose and throat and for your system in general.

DARK CHOCOLATE

Chocolate with a high cacao content (above about 70%) has finally been

making it into the mainstream as of late. (Try to avoid the snack-food

varieties which are pumped full of sugar and saturated fat.) Opting for a

darker chocolate will fill your body with the powerful antioxidant polyphenol

which boosts your immune system.

EAT FAT…AS FISH

Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and tuna reduce

inflammation in your body. When various parts of the body such as

the lymph nodes are inflamed, our immune systems don’t work as well

and thus we get sick easier and stay sick longer. (Fats are more

difficult for the body to process so eat other fats sparingly while sick.)

OYSTERS

Continuing on the seafood track, oysters may help cut down on the

Duration of a cold. This is due to their high zinc content – the highest of

any food – which has been proven to reduce the common cold when

taken as a supplement (though the supplements have some side effects

as well). Make sure to cook the oysters as a compromised immune system

won’t be able to fight off potential bacteria in raw seafood.

OATS

A common food to eat during weight loss, oats also contain a special

fibre named beta-glucan. Beta-glucan has been shown in some rat

studies to prevent infection of our upper respiratory tract and prevent early,

stress-related death. A cholesterol-fighter and an immune-booster.

GINGER

Asian cooks recommend ginger for nearly everything and rightly so

ginger helps prevent infection and heal you once you’re sick.

This ancient root helps anything from nausea to constipation to bloating.

Try it like the Chinese sometimes do as ginger eggs: add little bits of

ginger to your scrambled eggs to reduce coughing.

FENNEL

These small, liquorice-flavoured seeds often appear in central European

sausages, fennel seeds are wonderful for your respiratory system

as they can decongest you and reduce coughing. Crush the seeds to make

a tea or roast the bulb and stalks which you can find in most supermarkets,

they add a nice zing to a mixed vegetable roast or soup.

LEAN MEATS

One of protein’s major roles in our bodies is helping antibody production

and fighting infection. Though oily, greasy foods might make you feel

better for an instant, think about having roast turkey or chicken

next time you feel sick.

BEANS, LEGUMES, & NUTS

Benefitting you for some of the same reason as lean meats, the protein

in beans, legumes, and nuts can help you get through sickness.

Especially useful are Brazil nuts (just one meets your daily recommended

amount of selenium, a cold- and flu-fighter) and sunflower seeds

(packed with vitamin E, they can improve lung function and protect

your cell walls).