Foods that help with the cold or flu

Foods that make you feel better:

Fluids. water, decaf tea, fruit juice, soup. Liquids help to hydrate, and thin mucous secretions.
Chicken soup helps with mucous secretions.
Fruit, especially citrus, to increase vitamin C. Grapefruit helps detoxiy the liver.
Spicy food promotes drainage of the sinuses. Hot Mexican or Indian foods are good congestion busters.
Fresh, raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains, garlic, pulses, beans, small helpings of fish, nuts and seeds. These foods appear to increase resistance to infection and improve vitality.
BRAT – banana, rice, apple/sauce, tea- to control diarrhea symptoms.
Any other food that you can keep down! (except – see below)
My personal choice – hot Liptop or green tea steeped lemon and honey.

Foods that make it worse (i.e., what to avoid):

Dairy products like cream based soups, ice cream, pudding or milk as they increase phlem and congest sinuses.
Alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as these are dehydrating.
High-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.

See also Chicken soup for the flu as a tandem post, in participation of b5media’s Science and Health Channel Theme Day: Food, hosted by Ruth of Eating Fabulous]