Edible Flu Remedy

Hard training temporarily weakens the immune system, leaving you vulnerable to the sniffles and chills.

Did you know that what you eat can protect you from getting flu? While foods do not replace medicine, some foods and beverages can help decrease the risk of flu, as well as reduce symptoms if you do develop the sniffles.

A study of distance runners published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that taking probiotics daily for one month can more than halve the length of time you experience symptoms of an upper respiratory-tract infection.

The beneficial bacteria boost levels of an immune system molecule that is a key player in fighting viral infections. To be sure the yogurt you’re eating contains probiotics, look for the “Live & Active Cultures” seal.

Quercetin, a flavonoid found in apples, as well as grapes, onions, and tea, may lessen runners’ susceptibility to upper-respiratory infections, which often occur during periods of intense exercise. The study from the University of South Carolina found that quercetin, a potent antioxidant, appears to stymie the replication of viruses in the body.

All of an apple’s quercetin is concentrated in the skin, so leave the peeler in the kitchen drawer.