Australian Healthy Food Guide – June 2019

14 healthyfoodguide.com.au

of every banana consists of

water — which helps beat

dehydration over winter!

They’re also packed with

vital potassium!

Australian Bananas, 2019

MelissaMeier,

Healthy Food

Guide Accredited

Practising Dietitian

A

h-choo! Cold season

is here — with adults

coming down on

average with two–to–four

colds a year! Many people

think that during this time

you should load up on

vitamin C, but there’s little

research to show that

vitamin C supplements

prevent the onset of

colds and fl us. If you

already have a cold,

however, vitamin C

supplements may

helpshorten it.

It’smuch more

important to focus

onreal food to keep

yourimmune system

fighting fi t, rather than rely

onsupplements. So, here are

some top picks that give you

anatural immunity boost:

●Disease-fi ghting antioxidants

abound in fruit and vegies,

so make sure you reach your

two-and-fi ve serves a day.

● Iron plays a big role in your

immune system, too. That’s

the perfect excuse to enjoy

a hearty lamb or beef stew.

● Citrus

ruits like

ranges or

wis are rich

min C, each

of them containing more than

100 per cent of daily needs.

● In the depths of winter, the

’sunshine’ vitamin D can be a

little scarce. You can top up

on vitamin D with a couple

of eggs instead.

● When you are under the

weather, staying hydrated

is top priority. Green tea is

a good option, as it doubles

as an antioxidant punch.

Q

IsittruethatvitaminCcanshorten

a cold? If so, what foods can really

improve my immunity this winter?

Sophie, via Facebook

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Text: Dan Winter & Brooke Delfino. Photos: iStock.

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