Selected store: 

8 Flu-Fighting Foods

By Rachel Meltzer Warren, MS, RDN

Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash

Your body converts the antioxidant beta carotene (found in orange veggies like winter squash, sweet potatoes and carrots) into vitamin A. This vitamin in turn plays a crucial role in the development of infection-fighting cells. Other good sources of the nutrient include red pepper, kale, spinach, green leaf lettuce, mango and pumpkin.

Rachel Meltzer Warren is a New York City–based nutrition writer, educator and counselor.

Reviewed by Elaine Brown, MD on October 27, 2013

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17513409

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/shiitake-mushroom

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/reishi-mushroom

https://www.cbsnews.com/2100-204_162-550409.html

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/4/23/tea-drinking-improves-health-study-shows/#

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0429_030429_teaimmunity.html

https://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=414815

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090223221242.htm

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/

https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/quercetin 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17805089

https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/68/2/447S.full.pdf

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19253339

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11375434

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/ 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856516/

https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/80/2/245.full

Related articles from