Sniffle Busters!

It seems like right now everyone's dropping like flies around me. People are getting lots of nasty bugs that they can't manage to shake off very easily. Touch wood, the fam and I have managed to get away with it so far but I'm not planning on taking any risks!

 

Your diet is the most powerful natural weapon against flu and colds. Healthy foods are way more effective than supplements at keeping our body's defences working because pills simply can't replicate those benefits.

 

If you're fearing the flu like I am then you'll want to stock up on this group of immunity boosting ingredients so you can dodge the lurgy and head the sniffles off at the pass.

Read on for an A to Z of the foods that you MUST eat RIGHT NOW!!!

 

AVOCADO

These will give you a hit of antioxidant vitamin E, and infection-fighting glutathione.

 

BLUEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES or BLACKCURRANTS

These are all stuffed with immunity-boosting and inflammation-fighting purple anthocyanin antioxidants. 

 

BRAZIL NUTS

A great source of selenium to attack viruses, plus vitamin B6 to help your body fight off bugs.

 

CANNED SARDINES

Contain a plethora of anti-sniffle nutrients including zinc, B vitamins, iron, selenium and vitamin D.

 

CARROTS

Bursting with vitamin A these beauties keep your virus barriers up and fighting.

 

CASHEWS

One of my faves, a few of these max your zinc levels revving up immune cells to function at their best.

 

CURLY KALE

It's a veritable vitamin A, C, E and folate-fest of green goodness.

 

EGGS

An all-round nutrient powerhouse, eggs are protein-rich and full of vitamin D, which is proven to boost immunity. 

 

MUSHROOMS

Little bundles of B vitamins which help your body make bug-battling antibodies.

 

RED and ORANGE PEPPERS

Bet you didn't know that these lovelies contain more vitamin C than oranges. Now you do :)

 

RED ONIONS

All onions are good, but choose red onions for an even higher boost of cold-fighting anti-inflammatories.

 

SPINACH

My favourite! And there's a good reason for it. They contain infection-fighting ingredients galore, with vitamins A, C and E, folate and iron. It doesn't get much better than that!

 

TURKEY BREAST

A mega-combo of vitamins B2 and B6, which are essential for making defensive antibodies, plus lean protein, the building blocks of immune cells.

 

WATERCRESS 

This top trio of vitamin A, folate and glucosinolates boost immunity and are responsible for switching on your cells' defences.

 

Now put away those tissues because you won't be needing them!