Flu foods

Sub-zero temperatures setting in are long hours at the office in preparation for Christmas are just two of the reasons it seems like everyone is suffering from a cold or the flu.

Luckily, it’s possible to eat yourself healthy. Just recently a new report emerged that honey is better for children’s coughs than store-bought syrups.

There are plenty of other items at the grocery store that can help us through the sick season, says pharmacist and registered nutritionist Scott Berliner, president of Life Science Pharmacy.

Yogurt

This dairy product has been touted as a gastrointestinal gift for years. “Yogurt is excellent for creating good bacteria to prevent total body immunity,” says Berliner. He suggests taking a few spoonfuls (about 50 g) as a preventative medicine, but warns us away from sugary and inactive versions.

Citrus fruits

As well as being a known source of vitamin C (which, despite what many think, won’t help you once you’re sick), help the body to maintain a Ph balance. "Surprising as it sounds, some citrus fruits, despite being acidic, encourage the body to be more alkaline and healthy," says Berliner. He recommends drinking hot lemon juice, though fruits and vegetables in the diet also promote alkalinity.

Water

Eight cups a day of water is the advice in the US, but it’s important to remember not to drink distilled water, which Berliner says leaches minerals from the body: “When you hydrate, you also need minerals to hold onto the water.”

Tea and salt

For a sore throat and inflamed tonsils, Berliner recommends gargling a brew of black tea with
½ teaspoon of salt: “The tannins in the tea are astringent and effective for shrinking the swelling
and reducing irritation. The salt enhances the anti-inflammatory effect.”

Elderberry

A popular cordial in the UK, the extract or syrup of the fruit has also been said to help treat
viral infections. It is now available in the US.