[LifeStyle] The 10 foods you should eat to avoid colds and flu

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These cold and rainy months you should pay attention to your diet and eat a healthy diet

Colds and flu, diseases so typical of this time of year, can turn your day into a nightmare despite not being serious. That is why these months in which bad weather once again puts the body's defenses to the test, you should pay special attention to your diet.

And it is that foods like the ones we bring you next will help you strengthen your immune system and prevent colds and flu.

Pumpkins
Pumpkin, such a typical fall food and so rare on the grocery list, is also one of the best for preventing the flu. Its high content of beta-carotenes, the pigments responsible for giving this vegetable its characteristic orange color, make pumpkin a great source of vitamins, perfect for improving the defenses of the immune system.

Citrus
Oranges, tangerines, lemons ... grandmothers already said, any citrus is good to help fight colds and flu. Its high content of vitamin C and other nutrients help slow the progression of these common diseases at this time of year. The best thing is that you can take advantage of and alternate the ones you like the most: an orange juice, lemonade, some tangerines, a grapefruit, etc.

Natural yogurts
The probiotics present in yogurts help to take care of the intestinal flora, key in the immune system. But to benefit from the benefits of this food you have to eat at least one a day. Also, yogurts are perfect for people who are taking antibiotics as it will help them avoid getting more infections.

Carrots
Like pumpkins, carrots are another of the foods richest in beta-carotene that you can find in the supermarket. Whether cooked, in juice, as a garnish or raw, this tuber is perfect for the little ones in the house to have a healthy diet.

Garlic
While some hate the taste of it, others love it. There is no middle ground. But what everyone knows is that garlic not only serves to flavor your meals, it also has significant health benefits. It is a food rich in allicin, a component with a high natural antiseptic power capable of stimulating the immune system and fighting the flu and infectious processes. Additionally, a study published in Advances in Therapy (2001) showed that those who took garlic supplements for twelve weeks had fewer colds than those who took placebo.

Onions
The onion stands out for being rich in cysteine, an amino acid that strengthens the immune system, and quercetin, a component with antibacterial and anti-flu properties. In addition, introducing this food into your diet will help you decongest the airways and clean the lungs.

Vegetables
Legumes such as lentils or chickpeas usually return to the weekly menus after the hot months to help us fight the autumn cold. And is that this type of food is very beneficial to maintain body temperature, in addition to being rich in antioxidants, which help prevent infections.

Eggs
They are a source of protein, vitamins B12 and B6, selenium and zinc, essential for maintaining a strong immune system. That is why it is advisable to eat eggs about two or three times a week to keep colds and other illnesses at bay. In addition, being such a versatile food, you will not have any problem when it comes to including it in your diet or in that of the smallest of the house: you can cook them, grill them, fried, in an omelette, etc.

Ginger
Either in infusions or as a condiment for meals, this root will help you prevent and treat colds and flu processes. This is especially due to its antibacterial, antipyretic and analgesic properties. Additionally, ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps improve digestion.

Honey
That honey is one of the best home remedies to calm a cough is nothing new. But in addition, a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (2007) concluded that this food also helps prevent unwanted colds and flu by improving defenses.