4 natural tips to fight winter chills

The seasons are changing again and it’s time to put those summer clothes away and grab the jackets, jumpers, gloves, and get the doonas and blankets out.

Every year once the weather gets cooler, you should start thinking about what you can do to avoid getting those yearly coughs, colds and flu symptoms. It’s no fun getting sick, so we should take certain steps to build up our immune system to be able to defend against the coughs and colds that will inevitably be occurring all around you.

The best way to keep those coughs, colds and flu symptoms away is to boost your immune system. If your immune system is strong and healthy, then the chances of you catching coughs and colds this autumn and winter will be very low.

So here are a few quick nutrition tips to help you boost your immune system as much as possible.

1. Foods to avoid:

• Simple Sugars (e.g. Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose) – Excessive consumption of these simple sugars may suppress your immune system.
• Trans-Fatty Acids may interfere with the function of your immune system. These are found in fried foods, fast foods and processed foods.

2. Foods to include that will help boost your immune system:

• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Yoghurt
• Brewer’s yeast
• Coconut oil

3. Foods containing high levels of Vitamins A, C, and E, which are antioxidants that enhance your immune system:

• Fruits:  Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries, raisins, oranges, grapefruit, plums, pomegranates and bananas.
• Vegetables: Broccoli, capsicum, brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage, asparagus,  turnips, tomatoes and radish.
• Herbs: Red chilli and parsley.

4. Chicken Soup:

• If you are unlucky enough to pick up a cold early in the autumn/winter season, then make yourself some homemade chicken soup. Chicken soup may clear excessive mucus from your respiratory passages and may alleviate the symptoms of the common cold.

I hope that these tips may help you to stay healthy and well throughout the autumn/winter season.  You may be one of the lucky ones to escape those coughs and colds this year and enjoy winter instead.

Have you had the flu yet this winter? What’s a remedy you use?