As the days will be getting colder, I know I’ll soon be trading in my sandals for closed toe shoes and saying goodbye to my shorts to bring out my favorite pairs of jeans. All I’ll want to do is curl up with Netflix, hot tea, and a cup of soup under my favorite blanket.
As sunlight hours start to dwindle and we end up spending more and more time indoors, cold and flu viruses have more opportunities to spend time with us, too. Besides taking basic steps to stay healthy, such as drinking plenty of water, washing your hands like it’s your job (like, all the time), getting plenty of sleep and quarantining your friends who fall ill (just kidding), something we often forget to do is continue to incorporate plenty of fresh fruit in our diet. Because the summer sun and heat have gone, we don’t have a readily available supply of local produce to choose from – plus, that cup of soup with grilled cheese is just so, so inviting after a day walking around in the cold.
But the natural antioxidants found in fruit will not only add diversity to your diet but also boost your immune system, helping it fight off illnesses common with cold weather. Oranges are a common staple for sickness due to their high amounts of vitamin C, but don’t forget to add in berries, especially blueberries, to your diet. And, the fresher the fruit, the better.
WebMD lists 20 common foods with the highest amount of antioxidants:
- Small, dried red beans
- Wild blueberries
- Dried red kidney beans
- Pinto beans
- Cultivate blueberries
- Cranberries
- Artichokes (cooked)
- Blackberries
- Prunes
- Raspberries
- Stawberries
- Red Delicious apples
- Granny Smith apples
- Pecans
- Sweet cherries
- Black plums
- Russet potatoes (cooked)
- Dried black beans
- Plums
- Gala apples
Of course, eating fruit alone is not going to keep you healthy this winter. However, fruit can give your immune system a running start on winter illnesses!