When you are down with a flu, cough and cold, all you need is rest and some comfort food. According to studies, with every degree of rising body temperature, your metabolic rate is stimulated by 7% and your body needs more fuel to strengthen the immune system.

Unwell man using home remedy

While the common symptoms when one is unwell is drop in appetite and fatigue, the right diet, adequate rest, proper hydration along with medication, will put you back on the path to recovery.

Almost all households have a standard comfort that not only stimulate your appetite but also alleviate symptoms like cough, cough and help in steady recovery.

Here are the 5 best comfort foods, that are easy to prepare and good for health.

Best Comforting Foods

1. Soups

Soups top the list, as they are loaded with all the potent nutrients very essential to combat illness. The perfect combination of spices, herbs and vegetables in soups help to ease fever, clearing the nasal passages, preventing dehydration, and fighting inflammations. Be it a chicken or a vegetable soup it can help your body kick colds by preventing congestion and inflammation in their tracks.

2. Tea

Tea is the best remedy for many symptoms linked to cold and the flu. Sipping a cup of hot tea is a great way to help you stay hydrated while easing congestion at the same time. The abundance of polyphenol tannins, a natural substance found in tea possess strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Black tea can reduce the growth of bacteria in the throat and shorten the duration of cold and the flu.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a soft, bland and easy-to-digest food providing you with the needed calories, vitamin and minerals during illness. The wallop of nutrients in oatmeal including proteins, vitamins and minerals lessen the inflammation in the gut and boost the immune system.

4. Tender Coconut Water

Coconut water is the best beverage to drink when you are sick that helps you to stay well hydrated. It is myth that tender coconut water needs to be avoided while running a flu. Proper hydration is essential if you are suffering from fever, vomiting or loose stools, as they lead to excess loss of water and electrolytes. Coconut water comes with the perfect combo of glucose and electrolytes that are needed for hydration.

5. Bananas

Bananas are the perfect for patients. They are loaded with calories, potassium, vitamins, soluble fibre all of which promotes health and supports the immune system. Bananas are easy to eat, and also form a part of the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple, toast) that is generally recommended for diarrhoea.