We know we need to eat food that is good for us to keep our weight in check and keep heart disease at bay. But there is research and some evidence that there are foods in our diets that aid in staving off colds, viruses and maybe even cancers. I read an article on MSNBC that talks about the foods you need to keep the viruses away. Here are the highlighted foods:Yogurt- for the probiotics, esp Lactobacillus reuteri Sweet Potatoes- for the beta-carotene/vitamin A, also found in carrots and squashTea- for amping up the bodies production of interferon, proteins that help defend you against infectionChicken soup- no wives tale, its scientific! the chicken releases an amino acid that helps immunityZinc- immunity building mineral coming from pork, poultry, fortified cereals and oystersMushrooms- increase white blood cell activity and productionFish & Shellfish- esp Salmon, for their cytokines Garlic- which helps to fight infections and virusesOats and Barley- contain fiber that is antimicrobial and antioxidantThis list is filled with foods I eat and enjoy. The bottom line- eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meats. Keep fats and sugars to a minimum, a food selection like this should mirror an all around good diet and exercise routine.
