Foods that help prevent flu effectively that few people know about

Warming foods, dark green vegetables, nuts and fruits that help strengthen the lungs are considered suitable choices during the changing seasons, helping to effectively prevent flu.

Many types of vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals that help increase the body's resistance - Photo: AN PHU

Seasonal influenza is common and easily spread during the transition from winter to spring due to humid climate, erratic weather and environmental pollution. In addition to vaccination and chronic disease control, traditional medicine has many safe prevention and treatment methods, especially through nutrition.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Trung Hieu - nutrition specialist, Da Nang Traditional Medicine Hospital - said that a suitable diet will help increase resistance and support flu prevention.

Accordingly, in cold weather, priority should be given to warm dishes that help increase yang energy, such as dishes cooked with ginger, lemongrass, and perilla.

Some dishes that Dr. Hieu suggests include bird's nest with ginger, cold porridge, five-element soup, poultry, beans such as chickpeas, lentils, peas...

In particular, cold porridge is cooked from rice, perilla, fresh ginger, green onions and minced meat or shredded chicken.

In addition, food groups such as pears, apples, almonds, etc. have the effect of strengthening the lungs and enhancing respiratory function.

Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and spinach provide vitamins and minerals. Fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges, guava, and grapefruit help boost immunity. B vitamins, vitamin D, and foods rich in zinc (such as shellfish) are also important for protecting the immune system.

Broccoli is a suitable addition to the meal tray during the changing of seasons - Photo: AN PHU

In addition to food, teas such as ginger tea, perilla tea, and chrysanthemum tea also have the effect of relieving colds and keeping the body warm.

On the contrary, you should limit cold foods and drinks, raw foods, greasy foods or fast foods, because they can damage the spleen and stomach, reducing resistance. In particular, hard foods can make the throat more sore when you have the flu.

Dr. Hieu also emphasized the importance of exercise. Regular exercise helps blood circulation and improves overall health.

Keeping your body warm, getting enough sleep, avoiding overwork, keeping your mind relaxed, practicing personal hygiene and wearing a mask when necessary are also important measures to prevent seasonal flu.

"The above measures are only preventive and supportive. When having flu symptoms, you need to go to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment. The use of traditional medicine requires expert advice to ensure safety and effectiveness," Dr. Hieu noted.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-thuc-pham-giup-phong-tranh-cum-hieu-qua-it-nguoi-biet-20250217144351345.htm