Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, once said “May your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”. That being said, it is important to take care in what we put in our bodies with flu season in full swing. Rather than load up our bodies with boxed, drug store remedies, why don’t we just use ingredients we have in our homes to ward off a miserable, time- consuming flu. Not only will the following foods and beverages save you from illness, they reap long term benefits and taste way better than cough syrup!

Pamper yourself to fight the flu

1. Green Tea
   Different teas vary in health benefits. However, green tea will be the most beneficial variety to those with a flu or cold. A flu sufferer may drink green tea for relief of stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting.  Green tea is loaded with catechin, a polyphenol with serious antioxidant qualities that are even proven to fight off cancer cells. At VavaVida, we offer English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Chai Spice, and Green tea.
2. Oranges
   Oranges and other citrus fruits like grapefruit are high in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps build your immune system and fight off sickness for a faster recovery. However, experts are quick to point out that these fruits are most beneficial in their raw, unprocessed, unsweetened forms. Orange juice from the supermarket is more likely to be high in sugar, and digesting these sugars requires your body to work harder than you want it to be when you have a flu.
3. Yogurt
   Not only is yogurt a tasty snack, it also contains important bacteria to aid in digestive health. To get the most benefit from yogurt, aim for the Greek variety, or others that have live and active cultures in them. Yogurt will help with gastrointestinal problems like constipation and diarrhea, symptoms that often accompany a flu.
4. Tomato
   Not only are tomatoes high in Vitamin C, fresh tomatoes also contain lycopene. This rare antioxidant is believed to be a key ingredient in the prevention of cancer, most especially prostate cancer. Lycopene also fights the free radicals
   that spread illness and cause cell damage.
5. Garlic
   Surely in your kitchen already, garlic is a multifaceted remedy with antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. It contains allin, which stops bacteria form spreading throughout the body and acts as a decongestant. Garlic is most accredited for its ability to smooth circulation throughout the body and lower blood pressure.
6. Ginger
   Ginger is believed to prevent coughing and fever, symptoms which usually accompany a flu or cold. In addition, ginger aids in digestion and in nutrient absorption in the body. For a simple fever remedy, grate 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger in a mug, pour boiling water, and let steep for 5- 10 minutes. Better yet, simply grate ginger on top of your favorite treats or a glass of water.
7. Himalayan Salt
   Ironically, ingesting this salt will not dehydrate you in times of illness, and it in fact it has mysterious health benefits you can read about in my previous post. Himalayan Salt is known to improve electrolyte balance, a key aspect of health maintenance  Eating the salt (the edible kind of course) is one way to reap this benefit, but a steaming bath of our Himalayan bath slats will have the same effect.
8. Dark Chocolate
   With Valentine’s Day approaching fast, you’ll be happy to hear that dark chocolate has antioxidant properties that may ward of illness this flu season. However, beware of highly processed, sugary brands of chocolate. Blasting your blood sugar up with overly processed chocolate will do nothing but give you a sugar rush. Shoot for higher quality chocolates made from real cocoa. And remember, high quality does not have to mean expensive. Case in point: VavaVida.

So, there you have it! Avoiding the flu can be delicious and pain free. This flu season, throw away the cough syrup and brew yourself some nice, hot, green tea, take a hot bath, and eat some chocolate… actually, you should do this anytime of year. That sounds like fun.