Diet role during cold & flu

• Take plenty of fluids to flush toxic out of the body.The ideal liquids are water and fresh fruit juice. Avoid drinks that have diuretic (fluid-eliminating) properties, such as tea and coffee. 
• Drink at least six to eight glasses of liquid daily. Fluids help to thin secretions, making it easier for the body to clear them, and also help to prevent constipation.
• Avoid milk and other dairy products.a compound in milk triggers the release of histamine, a chemical that contributes to runny nose and nasal congestion which can make chest, sinus, and nasal congestion worse. 
• Avoid alcoholic drinks, as these are dehydrating. It depletes the body of vitamin C, and puts extra strain on the liver, which has to work extra hard to detoxify the body during illness.
• If your appetite is reduced don't feel obliged to eat, as long as you drink plenty. Foods should be as light and easily digestible as possible, with a strong emphasis on vegetable soups, broths, salads and lightly cooked fish or chicken. 
• Avoid high-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.
• Grapefruit is a great food for fighting a cold. It is high in vitamin C. It also helps detoxify the liver. The liver is your front line to the immune system, and when immunity is impaired, you need something that’s alkaline and not acidic to detoxify it. All citrus fruits become alkaline when metabolized in the body. But oranges and other citrus fruits are too sweet to promote proper liver drainage, so you get much better detoxification from grapefruit.
• Increase the proportion of vitamin C-rich foods in the diet, such as tomatoes, raw green peppers, carrots, strawberries and citrus fruit.
• Eat fresh, raw fruit and vegetables, whole grains, garlic, pulses, beans.These foods appear to increase resistance to infection and improve vitality.
• Drink some hot fluids. This will warm your throat.Taking herbal drink such as ginger tea is doubly helpful because of their heating effect as well as the antiviral effect.
• Stay away from sweets when you have cold.
• For a sore throat, take one zinc lozenge dissolved in the mouth every two to three hours or as needed.
  
• To clear up nasal congestion, use steam inhalation adding eucalyptus oil to the water.
• If you don't feel like eating, do not force yourself during cold & flu.