Having a cold sucks, but having a cold during the summer is a real bummer. Staying at home blowing your nose while your friends are out sipping cocktails by the beach inspires a special kind of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). When it comes to defeating a summer cold, the best defense is a good offense: eat plenty of fruits and veggies, enjoy a little green tea, and open up a bottle of red wine.
Green tea, produce, and red wine all have the same cold-defeating flavonoids. What are flavonoids, exactly? Glad you asked. Flavonoids, which are found in plants, are metabolites that have antioxidant properties. In other words, they help prevent your body from succumbing to illnesses like a nasty summer cold. According to a study from the University of Auckland, drinking red wine can “significantly reduce the risk of catching colds and coughs.”
Because certain research suggests flavonoids have anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, they can potentially boost your immune system and make you less likely to catch a cold from your sick friends. We have yet to hear of a more enjoyable preventative measure.
Dr. Andrea Braakhuis, a nutrition researcher from the University of Auckland, explains that, “[Colds are] a leading cause of visits to a doctor, yet antibiotics don’t help, so it’s worth giving flavonoids a go as part of a healthy diet.”
Braakhuis says that such a diet consists of five servings of veggies a day, two of fruit, and a dinner plate that’s comprised of at least 50% veggies. Quench your thirst with green tea, and – wait for it: red wine. We think we can all agree that sounds tastier than NyQuil.
