Thanksgiving is over and if you’re still eating the leftovers, make sure they’re the
leftovers that can bolster your health.

Bolster your health?
Yes, in addition to the turkey, some other foods can also help you prevent colds
and flu this holiday season.

The Foods:
a) Turkey-
Yes, it tastes great, but after 4 days you’re ready for a steak or pepperoni pizza,
and that’s okay, but if remaining cold and flu-free are goals you have, eat turkey
soup and add some to a veggie stir-fry or salad.
Turkey is packed with amino acids that slash the production of immunity-
sapping cortisol (the stress hormone). Plus, turkey is loaded with zinc–an
antiviral mineral that halves the risk of illness by destroying germs in the
tissues lining the nose and throat, their most common point of entry.
And more good news: If you should get sick, zinc-rich foods correct zinc
shortfalls and cut recovery time (for colds, influenza and even Co-Vid-19),
by as much as 65%.
The recommended dose:
4 to 6 oz. of turkey.

b) Make Gravy-
If you have any drippings left from the turkey, make a broth or gravy and use
the flu-fighting foods garlic and mushrooms.
* Mushrooms-
Mushrooms contain beta-glucan, which energize virus-killing white blood cells,
halving the risk of colds or the flu. Another benefit: Mushrooms and the beta-
glucans in them, reduce Co-Vid-19 severity since these virus busters are also
powerful natural anti-inflammatories.
Important tip: No need to buy pricey mushrooms, white button work just as
well as cremini or portobellos.
Garlic-
Often used to dress up salads and Italian dishes, garlic added to sauteed turkey slices
or broth or even gravy can cut your risk of catching a cold by 55%. Garlic contains
sulfur compounds and these compounds boost the production of virus-killing
antibodies by 40%, in as little as 2 days after eating them.

c) A Sip of Red-
If you’re a wine lover or just an occasional drinker, make sure you’re drinking
the wine that’ll do the most good for your immune system and the wine
that fits the bill: Red or Dark Red.
Drinking 4 to 8 oz. daily can cut your risk of colds and flu by 40%.
The grape skins contain flavonoids, and these flavonoids can stop viruses
from embedding themselves in your genetic material and the cells lining
your nose, throat and lungs.

d) A Green Side Dish-
Although it’s not popular in a lot of households, green bean casseroles certainly
makes it’s way to a lot of American tables and if you’re one who does enjoy
a green bean casserole or lightly steamed green beans, give yourself a pat on the back.
Green beans are actually legumes, (not vegetables) and they steady blood sugar as
effectively as other vegetables. And that’s important, since researchers say steady
blood sugar keep immune cells energized to cut symptom severity- and risk of
complications-by 60%, should you develop any type of viral illness.

e) Have Dessert-
Pumpkin, sweet potato or even butternut squash or any orange colored vegetable
that can be made into a dessert (pie or pudding) energizes the immune system,
increasing the production of bacteria-killing T cells by 40%. Just 1/2 cup of
any orange-colored vegetable eaten daily cuts winter illness risk by 25%,
plus reduces the risk of troublesome complications such as bacterial sinus
infections and bronchitis by 55%.
Important tip: When making a dessert using any of the orange-colored foods,
you may want to use as little sugar as possible or even avoid it, why?
Sugar is one of the worst destructive offenders on one’s immune system,
so it’s best to use alternatives like fruit juice, honey, pure maple sugar,
monk sugar or stevia.

That’s it- your list of 6 foods to pick up this week, while grocery shopping,
foods that’ll help bolster your immune system and help you stay cold and
flu-free this winter and winters to come.

Good Luck, Good Eating and Good Health!

Sources:
* Yale University, Conn. Research Dept.
* Japanese Research Team
* Journal of Immunology Research
* Journal of Nutritional Research
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