DENVER - You've heard the sayings: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Feed a fever, starve a cold.
It turns out, what you eat can help you beat the flu. But the key is getting as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Five cups a day, experts say.
"Five servings day, particularly colorful vegetables that boost the immune system and increase the number of white blood cells that fight infection," says Dr. Kristin Woodward.
When the flu attacks us, our immune system fights back with white blood cells. The body needs vitamins to manufacture the flu-fighting cells.
The body needs vitamins A and C, found in colorful fruits and vegetables like strawberries, oranges, green beans, yams and carrots. You also need vitamins B and E found in whole grains seeds and beans.
Woodward recommends getting the vitamins from real foods, not supplements.
"We really recommend the vegetable or the fruit over the supplement because it really has additional Fido Nutrients in them that also help boost the immune system."
The exception is Vitamin D, which is hard to find naturally, but is added to milk.
Foods high in processed sugars, and Trans Fats may actually suppress the immune system.
So eat healthy now, because once you start getting sick, it's too late.
.
It turns out, what you eat can help you beat the flu. But the key is getting as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Five cups a day, experts say.
When the flu attacks us, our immune system fights back with white blood cells. The body needs vitamins to manufacture the flu-fighting cells.
The body needs vitamins A and C, found in colorful fruits and vegetables like strawberries, oranges, green beans, yams and carrots. You also need vitamins B and E found in whole grains seeds and beans.
Woodward recommends getting the vitamins from real foods, not supplements.
"We really recommend the vegetable or the fruit over the supplement because it really has additional Fido Nutrients in them that also help boost the immune system."
The exception is Vitamin D, which is hard to find naturally, but is added to milk.
Foods high in processed sugars, and Trans Fats may actually suppress the immune system.
So eat healthy now, because once you start getting sick, it's too late.
.
