5 foods that ease the flu

Here are some foods that are especially good for helping ease your flu symptoms. Try them, and get some relief.

If you get stuck with the flu this season, there are a few foods that can help nurse you through.

• Fighting infection is tough work, and it's important to fuel yourself with calories, especially if you have a fever.
• That means you should eat regularly and make sure you're taking in the right kind of calories to help with your flu symptoms.

Chicken noodle soup is always one of the go-to foods when you're sick.

• It makes sense: the amino acid found in chicken helps to clear out your lungs and hot broth is great for your stuffy nose and sinus congestion.
• It also helps the swelling go down in your throat if it's feeling sore.

One of the nice things about being sick is that you get to stock the freezer with popsicles.

• These treats are a great way to stay hydrated and soothe a sore throat. It's especially helpful if you can find the kind that's 100 per cent fruit juice or made from real fruit so that you're getting vitamins on top of relief.

Ginger is great when you're sick.

• It's very effective at soothing upset stomachs, which is a common symptom of the flu.
• Boil some fresh ginger in hot water and drink it as tea to get the added benefit of the soothing effects of hot water. If you don't like it that strong, drink flat ginger ale to help you stay hydrated.

Sometimes the flu comes with high fevers, which can make you sweat out a lot of nutrients.

• Bananas are great for restoring the potassium in your body that you might be losing when you're sick.
• They're also easy to eat and restore electrolytes in your body, which helps with hydration as well.

When your appetite is knocked out and your stomach feels unsettled, plain white crackers are the way to go.

• They can stabilize digestion if you've had a lot of stomach upset and they're very easy to take down.
• They also help to provide a lining if you've been taking medicine, which can be hard on an empty stomach.