How can I boost my immune system during cold and flu season?

A healthy immune system is critical to fighting off unwanted viruses. Find out how to defend yourself during cold and flu season in this video with preventive and functional medicine specialist Dr. Susan Blum.

To keep fever, sneezing, runny nose, and other gnarly symptoms at bay during cold and flu season, take a daily 30-minute walk and chow down on these five foods to give your immune system a hefty boost.

• Use the power of healthful protein. One of protein's many jobs is pumping up your ability to make disease-busting antibodies. Just steer clear of fatty red meats and full-fat dairy foods (they promote heart-hazardous inflammation). Pick up healthy-fat, high-protein foods, such as nonfat dairy, skinless white-meat chicken, ground turkey breast, tofu, fish, nuts, and beans.
• Load up on colorful eats. Oranges, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, kiwifruit -- all are loaded with vitamin C and flavonoids, which help your body churn out protective immune cells.
• Sip hot tea. People who drink 5 cups (about 3 mugs) of black tea daily produce 10 times more virus-fighting interferon than coffee drinkers.
• Eat 100% whole-grain cereals. Oatmeal, shredded wheat, and other whole-grain cereals deliver three nutrients proved to enhance immunity: selenium, zinc, and beta glucan. Check out other foods that fight colds and flu.
• Spice up your chicken soup. If you catch something anyway, chicken soup shortens its duration by 50%. One theory about why (there are many): Cooked chicken releases cysteine, an amino acid that's chemically similar to acetylcysteine, a bronchitis drug. Up the soup's knockout punch to cold and flu bugs by tossing in infection-fighting garlic and hot red pepper, which contains capsaicin, a powerful decongestant.

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