When you’re down with a cold or flu, the worst you can experience besides a stuffy nose is losing your appetite. Annoying cold and flu symptoms like congestion, cough, fatigue, headaches, and others can make food, even your favorite dishes, a complete turnoff. However, consuming the right foods and beverages can offer relief and eliminate the symptoms of this devastating condition at the earliest.

Knowing the foods that can help fight cold and flu is essential to strengthen your immune system and to recover faster. Eating these nourishing foods and consuming fluids to keep your body hydrated helps in speedy recovery from cold and flu symptoms.

Chicken soup
Chicken has anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve cold symptoms. It’s also proved to clear nasal passages and congestion faster and more effectively than other hot liquids.

Citrus fruits
Vitamin C helps in preventing symptoms of cold and flu, and this compound is found in several citrus fruits. These fruits have dense nutrients to eliminate the symptoms of cold, especially for individuals living in sickness-inducing environments.

Chamomile tea and ginger tea
These are one of the best foods that can help fight cold and flu as they offer an antibacterial effect in the body. Chamomile tea preserves your immunity and builds strength to eliminate the cold symptoms while also promoting restful sleep. Ginger has potent anti-inflammatory properties that boost your immune system to fight cold successfully and flu symptoms.

Kale
Rich in antioxidants, Vitamin A, C & K, and folate, kale stimulates your immune system and strengthens your body’s infection-fighting microorganisms. It’s also a potent source of iron that attacks the bacteria and virus that cause cold and flu. You can have it by mixing the chopped kale with honey, olive oil, lemon, and salt & pepper.

Kefir
This superfood is loaded with probiotics that reduce symptoms and the recovery time for common cold and flu. The highly nutritious food promotes a strong immune system and encourages proper digestion. This helps your body in breaking down nutrients needed to build and strengthen the immune system.

Wheat Germ
These types of foods that can help fight cold and flu contain a dense amount of nutrients like Vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. You can stir wheat germ into a smoothie or a muffin batter and consume it for amazing illness-fighting energy.

Garlic
Garlic is rich in antiviral and antimicrobial properties that boost the performance of the immune system to combat the infection. It can successfully fight infections and ward off illness caused by the common cold and flu.

Green vegetables
These vegetables are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and pack dense nutrients to power the immune system and its infection-fighting functions. They also have Vitamin A & C and provide bioactive compounds that optimize immunity in the gut.

Turmeric
One of the most potent foods that can help fight cold and flu is curcumin found in turmeric. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory compound that boosts immune cell activity and enhances antibody responses. Combine turmeric with black pepper to significantly enhance the effects of curcumin. You can sprinkle this mixture onto your favorite smoothie, broth, soup, or even cooked vegetables.