Common Cold Prevention

...for a Diet Healthy Lifestyle

Time for some common cold prevention for a diet healthy lifestyle. It's that time a year again when our friend (not) the common cold decides to visit. So, how do you politely tell it to leave - or better yet, not let it visit in the first place! You guessed it, the mission - common cold prevention by eating a balanced healthy diet.

Almost everyone, at one time or another, gets the common cold - an ailment that has no cure BUT does have measures that can be taken to either prevent or lessen its severity. Therefore, learn about some common cold prevention measures.

A diet healthy lifestyle has many benefits and one that is overlooked is the fact that it can boost your immune system and ward off the cold (not to mention the flu and other infections). So what are the foods that are best for the immune system?

Before I jump to the foods that are best for the immune system, one of the most important things to remember is "eat a balanced diet" (a healthy diet of course) - click here for a great food guide resource - it's FREE!

So, here are some foods that, when eaten as part of a healthy diet, can improve immune function and help prevent colds and other health problems.

1. Fruits

• Fruits contain a variety of substances that are good for your immune system, one of which is vitamin C. Vitamin C increases production of white blood cells and interferon (an antibody that coats cell surfaces and prevents the entry of viruses).
  
  
• Many fruits such as strawberries, cherries and blueberries are also rich in antioxidants and help maintain healthy tissue and repair damage caused by an infection, for example.

2. Vegetables

• Most vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as:
  • spinach, parsley and carrots - a good sources of vitamin A
  • cauliflower and most green vegetables - rich in vitamin K
  • turnip and mustard greens - lots of vitamins A and E
  • collard greens and squash - contain substantial amounts of zinc (stimulates the immune system)
    
    
• Carotenoids are also found in carrots and dark red, green and yellow vegetables.
  
  
• Beta carotene is the most recognizable of the carotenoids (but there are many more) and work together to boost the creation of infection-fighting cells (they are also antioxidants).

3. Whole Grains

• An excellent source of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. Fiber because it helps cleanse the body of toxins - aids in immune function as well as overall health.

4. Protein

• Found in meats, beans and soy products because it boosts energy and optimizes the production of cells including those that fight off infection.
  
  
• Fish is an excellent choice for protein because it's rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (which are great for the immune system).

A diet healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to prevent illness...including the common cold! Building up your immune system and taking other precautions such as washing your hands regularly could keep you from getting a cold in the first place.

But, if you do get a cold...a healthy diet will give your body the nutrients it needs to fight it off quickly.

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