9 Best Foods for a Cold ...

Turns out, all of our moms and grandmas were right – thanks, mom! Chicken soup is a great food for a cold, and it really can help you feel better in no time. The warmth of the broth helps soothe you, but there are many more benefits. Research shows that chicken noodle soup prevents inflammation and stops it from spreading; it also prevents the white blood cells that cause congestion.

Honestly, any kind of fruit rich in vitamin C is fantastic for fighting colds, no matter what current controversies say. However, sweet little clementines are also chock full of antioxidants, allowing them to keep colds from dragging on forever. Plus, they're way less messy than oranges.

Personally, I can't think of a more delicious food for a cold. I love roast beef sandwiches! But why are they helpful when you've got a cold? It's because roast beef has lots of zinc, which is hugely beneficial to your immune system. In fact, it can keep certain viruses and bacteria from growing! Whole grain bread also has lots of zinc, so if you pair the two, you'll be invincible!

I'm a huge fan of tuna salad as well, and apparently my immune system appreciates it. Tuna has tons of glutamine, which is an important amino acid that makes your immune system more efficient. There's a strong suggestion that it can even protect you against upper respiratory infections.

In general, ginger is a powerhouse food for a cold. You can drink ginger tea to do battle against the germs, but you can also eat a cookie. After all, gingersnaps have lots of ginger, and all that delicious spice will actually soothe your throat and break up congestion.

Spicy foods can actually be great for fighting colds. Vegetarian chili gives you the addition of vegetables and their attendant nutrients, but don't worry. You can have meat, too! Just make sure you include garlic, onions, tomatoes and paste, and kidney beans. See, the first two can battle viral infections and the beans are full of B vitamins, which boost your immune system. Even the spices typically used in chili will clear your sinuses!

Let's focus on garlic a little more, though, want to? It might only be used to season and flavor, but it's still a food. If you take a garlic supplement every day, you're 50 percent less likely to catch a cold in the first place. When you are sick, it aids in a quick recovery and cuts down on the likelihood of being reinfected. If you eat it regularly, you're doing yourself even better – especially if you eat it fresh rather than cooking it!

When it comes to dealing with a cold, mushrooms are awesome. They're full of protein, their nutritional value is second to none, and they basically have no cholesterol, calories, or fat grams. They have powerful B vitamins, they're loaded with selenium, an antioxidant, and they've got loads of potassium. Needless to say, they do very good things to your immune system, so in addition to helping you battle colds, they can speed up your recovery time as well.

Lastly, yogurt is a wonderful food for a cold. This is due to its many probiotics, which also strengthen your immune system. You should especially eat yogurt that has live cultures, because it increases your body's good bacteria.

The best food for a cold will be full of important vitamins and nutrients. There are plenty of things you can drink as well, like freshly squeezed orange juice. Sometimes, the perfect food for a cold is just your favorite. Chocolate, for instance, might not have any intrinsically healthy value in fighting off your cold, but if it makes you feel better, go for it! What's your favorite food for a cold? Please share your remedies!

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