Everyone was talking about this new cold medicine that worked miracles. Except it didn’t. None of the medicines do. The only way to actually prevent a cold is through your diet.
Here are 7 foods that scientifically have shown they can help you avoid catching a cold:
1. Garlic
Garlic has a compound in it called allicin that basically kills ALL bacteria. Basically, if you’re going to an island where there are deadly viruses and bacteria… eat garlic and you’ll be fine. Garlic is great for the immune system as well.
2. Onions
Onions work similarly to garlic except it doesn’t have quite as much allicin. However, it still has an extremely high amount of immune-boosting compounds.
3. Dark chocolate
This is a strange one, but dark chocolate contains catechin which can actually help lower the risk of catching a cold by around 30%. It also helps protect cells from damage that may lead to a cold or flu.
4. Ginger
Ginger is great for the immune system because it contains a chemical called gingerol which prevents white blood cells from self-destruction. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help ease nausea that sometimes accompanies the flu or cold.
5. Honey
Honey is jam packed with antioxidants that fight off colds. The only problem with honey is it’s so good at fighting bacteria, it can also kill the good bacteria in your stomach and cause yeast infections.
6. Blueberries
Blueberries are high in antioxidants which means they help destroy free radicals before they have a chance to attack your cells. If you need to snack on something while avoiding a cold, blueberries are the way to go.
7. Flax seeds
Flax seeds have special anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce mucus production and inflammation in your sinuses which can be great if you’re trying to avoid getting a cold or flu.
