Everyone living in China should be familiar with the concept of healthful eating to balance out body humors and improve your qi. In the same vein, eating certain foods can build up a stronger immunity to invading germs and bacteria. Although this is by no means as effective as medicine, the following wholesome foods can lower your chances of catching this threatening flu.
The logic behind this is simple and irrefutable: an already sickly person is more likely to become sicker. Dr. Nick Phin, head of pandemic flu planning at the Health Protection Agency at the UK, confirms that malnourishment increases the chances of falling ill and that, “a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet will be an important factor in helping to maintain a healthy immune system.”
While a balanced healthy diet is of the utmost importance, it’s okay to eat some things in abundance. Firstly, strong membranes in your eyes, ears, and nose will act as a primary physical barrier against germ invasion into the body. To build up these membranes, eat a fair share of protein-rich foods: lean white meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts, seeds, and beans. Vitamin A also helps reinforce the respiratory system so fill up on orange and green fruit and vegetables like apricots, mangos, carrots, leafy vegetables and kiwis.
If germs do invade the body, the body has ways to battle them. White blood cells literally eat up invaders and Vitamin C helps strengthen these cells. Snack on some citrus fruits, berries and kiwis, and serve Vitamin C-filled veggies at dinner.
T-cells also help fight invading germs by producing much-needed antibodies, but require zinc to function well. To get your daily dose of zinc, eat up on beef, eggs and seafood. Good news too – most of these foods are also high in iron.
Another simple tip for avoiding flu bugs is one that many Chinese people already know. Have you noticed people eating raw garlic by the clove in winter? If you have chalked it up to odd cultural preferences, it may be a good idea to follow their example. When raw garlic is crushed, it releases a nutrient called allicin that prevents viruses from invading the body and damaging tissue membrane. And eating raw garlic will most likely repel people too – lowering your chances of catching swine flu even more.
