Instead of popping pills and making numerous visits to the doctor, it is best for you to safeguard yourself from cold and flu by eating plenty of healthy foods. These include the following:

Homemade soups and broths
Bones, cartilages, and marrows contain certain nutrients that boost your immune system. When these are cooked, the collagen present in them turns into a protein usually known as gelatin.

Garlic and onions
Onions and garlic not only add flavor to your food but they are also good for your health and help you to tackle pesky common colds. These food items are great immunity boosters. You can mix them in your salad and any other vegetable preparation.

Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and sweet limes are usually rich in vitamin C that helps to ward off common cold and flu. They also help in purifying your blood.

Ginger
Ginger is a natural blood purifier and has anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, it helps your sinus from getting infected. Ginger contains certain chemicals known as sesquiterpenes that tackle stuffiness experienced in the nose and suppresses the cold.

Fermented foods
Fermented foods like yogurts and pickles are packed with probiotics that act as natural antibiotics for the body since they contain good bacteria that help in fighting germs.

Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious, but they are also a good source of nutrients. They contain beta-carotene, which is a bright orange pigment. It helps in increasing the functioning of our cells. They help in warding off certain types of infections.

Mushrooms
The fungus that these mushrooms contain is a good bacterium that helps in fighting off various respiratory viruses. Button mushrooms increase antivirus production and kick out unwanted microbes that cause illnesses like flu and common cold. However, you need to ensure that you are eating organic mushrooms that are grown under hygienic conditions.

Turmeric
Turmeric has natural antioxidants that clean the blood and also warm your body from the inside. They help in terminating a lot of bad bacterium.

Many food items help you ward off numerous medical conditions. The food items mentioned above have been tried and tested to prevent cold and flu.