Influenza, under-the-weather, cold and flu…regardless of what you choose to call it, it is almost inevitable that you will suffer from it at some point or another. When your immune system is compromised, the influenza virus can attack and before you know it you are sick as a bird, feeling powerless over the influenza beast.
Although you can’t make the cold and flu disappear instantly, you can help speed-up the healing process by resting up, avoiding sugar and consuming the following immune system boosting super drinks.
6 Drinks to Help Cold and Flu Symptoms and Immune System Health
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Ginger Tea
Steep fresh ginger in hot water and drink up at your leisure. Ginger tea is not only excellent for reducing nausea and soothing your stomach, it also has antiviral properties, meaning it will help to kill of the nasty virus that is making you feel so sick. Ginger also has warming and restorative properties, and it can help to reduce influenza related muscle aches, sooth a scratchy throat, ease a cough and reduce a fever.
Lemon Water
Adding fresh squeezed lemon juice to a cup of hot water is an excellent way to speed up the healing process. Lemons are high in antioxidants and vitamin C– both of which help to boost your immune system and increase the production of infection fighting white blood cells. Lemon juice is also well known for its ability to warm, activate and cleanse you entire body, and to reduce phlegm. In addition, the vitamin C in lemons helps to make your body more alkaline, which is important because the influenza virus tends to thrive in an acidic environment.
Green Tea
Green tea has been valued as a health elixir for centuries in Asia. Similar to lemon juice, green tea is very high in antioxidants, which are beneficial because they help to fight off harmful free radicals that contribute to sickness. Green tea also contains a substance called EGCG, which has been found to block viruses from multiplying and also to fight off harmful bacteria (9). For an extra sickness fighting boost, gargle with green tea because studies have found that doing so can help to directly kill any virus that is lingering in your throat.
Immune System Health – Other Drinks That Help
Honey Drinks
Not only is honey delicious, it also contains natural antiviral and antibiotic properties and it helps to strengthen your immune system. In addition, honey helps top reduce a cough because it coats and sooths an irritated throat (11). Honey is great when added to any of the above drinks and you can also consume it with plain hot water, herbal or black tea, or even in your coffee.
Fresh Vegetable Juice
Fresh vegetable juice is high in phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—all of which will help to ward off sickness. Some of the best vegetables for juicing that will help to turbo charge your immune system include: carrots, celery, cucumber, dark leafy greens, wheatgrass, parsley, and garlic. For the best results, drink between 1 and 3 glasses per day while you are sick and 1 glass a day to boost your immune system, when you feel you might be on the verge of getting sick.
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Bonus Idea
For the ultimate cold and flu fighting concoction combine ginger, lemon, green tea and honey and alternate between drinking that mix and drinking fresh vegetable juice!
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