Eat Your Way To A Cold and Flu Free Winter

      With winter just around the corner, it’s time to boost the immune system the old fashioned way, well before the 'runny-nose' and head cold has set in. Forget over the counter remedies, the secret to a healthy and cold-free winter is prevention, the ingredients for which are likely to be sitting in your fridge and pantry. So here are the six foods you should be injecting into your weekly routine: 

       Garlic: Allicin, the key active component found in garlic provides a potent dose of antibacterial and antimicrobial properties essential to creating a healthy gut flora. The first and most important step in helping rid the body of toxins and bacteria.

       Beef: Loaded with zinc, beef helps boost the body’s production of white blood cells, in turn helping build a strong immune system, essential to warding off infection.     

       Tumeric: Recently crowned as a ‘superfood’, turmeric is a rich source of antioxidants and provides natural anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that individuals who consume the spice on a regular basis are less susceptible to colds and flus.

       Dark leafy greens: Don’t let the colour fool you. Dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and argula are a rich source of Vitamin C. Studies show that a regular intake of Vitamin C will not only help prevent cold’s and flu’s but will shorten the duration of one should you catch the bug. 

       Salmon: As the days get shorter and darker our levels of Vitamin D tend to deplete over winter. This is a nutrient crucial to fending off the common cold and other respiratory tract infections. Wild salmon provides a rich dose of Vitamin D and other essential fatty acids required for a healthy immune system. 

       Chicken Soup: Not just a myth but a proven immune boosting remedy. This age old elixir not only provides a hydrating a soothing meal option, the amino acid cysteine released by the chicken resembles a drug used to treat bronchitis.