Cold and flu season typically strikes in the fall and winter. Cold and flu are different viruses but share many of the same symptoms. Some symptoms of the common cold may  include chills, fatigue, sneezing, running nose, sore throat, headache, and chest discomfort. While the flu often features these same symptoms with fever, chills, and in some cases, nausea and vomiting.
If you become sick with the cold or flu, over the counter cold flu medicine or cold sore medicine for kids is often taken to lessen symptoms. It is also important to consume the following superfoods to boost immunity so your body can fight off a cold or flu:

1. Ginger
Ginger promotes healthy aging and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can boost the body’s immunity to fight off the cold and flu. The strong taste and smell can help sooth a sore throat and nausea caused by the cold or flu. The root can be eaten raw, used in receipts or boiled and consumed as a tea.

2. Citrus
Citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, grapefruit, mandarin oranges and kumquats are excellent sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C is used in many of your body’s functions, such as healing, repairing body tissues and protecting your cells from free radicals. Therefore, by consuming fruits and vitamin C, you are boosting your health. Vitamin C helps to fight against a cold by reducing both the severity and duration of the cold. Citrus fruits are both delicious and nutritious for the body. You can also make fruit smoothies for drinking in addition or instead of eating the fruits.

3. Lemons
Lemons are full of vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to reduce severity and duration of a cold. A warm lemon tea with honey can help sooth a sore throat and reduce phlegm, common symptoms of the common cold or flu. Drinking hot water or herbal tea infused with lemon and honey is great because drinking plenty of fluids helps to relieve congestion, loosen mucus and replace electrolytes. If you had a fever or sweating as a result of the cold or flu, drinking lemonade helps to replenish your fluids. Your body recovers quicker when it is hydrated.

4. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup helps to fight against colds by clear congestion and thin mucus, common symptoms of a cold or flu. Drinking chicken soup boosts immunity because your body is gaining energy from the chicken protein and staying hydrated with the soup. The soup is also shown to have anti-inflammatory effects to boost immune health. Since soup is often made with garlic, onions, and ginger, the benefits of those ingredients are also consumed.

5. Garlic
Garlic contains nutrients such as manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium and fiber to help boost immune health. It helps to reduce your chances of catching an illness. Studies have shown that it helps to reduce the duration and severity of the common cold. This ingredient can be easily incorporated in everyday dishes or in soups. Also, it can be chopped up and used in salsa or guacamole as a dip when snacking.