FLU SEASON & NUTRIENTS TO FOCUS ON

Vitamin C

Most people have heard about vitamin C's effect on the immune system, but you may not know that it also plays an important part in fighting viral infections such as influenza.

Vitamin C is necessary to produce white blood cells, which help fight infection in the body by destroying infected cells. Studies have shown that consuming lots of vitamin C can help to boost the immune system and help you recover from the flu more quickly.

Try to eat foods high in vitamin C every day during the winter months to boost your immunity and reduce the severity of your colds.

Vitamin D

Vitamin C is not the only vitamin that can help to keep you healthy during the cold and flu season. Vitamin D is important for overall health and also plays an important role in helping the body combat infection.

Evidence suggests that people with low levels of vitamin D are more prone to catching the flu than those with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood.

Getting enough vitamin D in your diet during the winter months is important as this will help prevent colds and flu from developing in the first place.

If you are prone to getting ill during the winter, you might want to take an extra vitamin D supplement to ensure you get enough of this vital nutrient.

Zinc

Zinc is another essential mineral that is beneficial to the immune system and helps strengthen it to better fight off harmful bacteria and viruses. Low levels of zinc can affect your immune system, so you must include many foods rich in zinc in your daily diet.

Some of the richest plant-based sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, spinach, nuts, beans, oats, and lentil. So, try incorporating them into your diet as much as possible during winter to boost your immune system.

Supplements made from whole food sources, such as guava leaf, are also available, providing a quick and convenient way of getting the zinc you need daily.

Antioxidants

You can include some additional foods in your diet to boost your immune system and prevent colds and flu from taking hold in your body this winter.

Foods that are high in antioxidants help to reduce free radical damage in the body, which can help prevent colds and flu from developing and causing symptoms to develop in your body.

These include berries (I always opt for the frozen mixed berries with black and red currants as these are super high in antioxidants), green leafy vegetables such as beet greens, chard, spinach, and kale, and even raw cacao is fantastic for making sweet treats, as it contains a high level of antioxidants known as flavonoids.

Superfoods

You can also incorporate superfoods as supplements to your diet, such as Irish sea moss gel or capsules, elderberry syrup, acerola cherry, guava leaf, and even fermented foods like kimchi provide immune-boosting probiotics for gut health.

Bonus points include incorporating medicinal mushrooms, which are great for the immune system and effective when fighting viruses and symptoms during or following influenza!

For more information about some of the superfoods discussed here and links to get additional immune support supplements, including the Irish sea moss and medicinal mushrooms, view the links below and checkout with the code wyles15 for 15% off orders over £20.

Organic Irish Sea Moss

Mushroom Complex 6

Organic Guava Leaf Extract

Organic Acerola Cherry Capsules

How to make Kimchi ~ Vegan (thevegannutritionist.co.uk)

Boosting Your Immune Response with Freshly Juiced Oranges (thevegannutritionist.co.uk)

Simple Elderberry Syrup Recipe (Potent Cold & Flu Remedy) (thevegannutritionist.co.uk)

Thanks for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this blog, and will join me again for the next one! 

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Rose Wyles - The Vegan Nutritionist

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