<div><div class="edit">According to the&nbsp;<a title="CDC FluView Report" href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm" target="_blank">CDC's weekly FluView report</a>, "flu activity continues to&nbsp; increase in parts of the United States."&nbsp; Additionally, my&nbsp; super-scientific Sneezers on the Subway observations indicate that colds&nbsp; are also on the rise. And while the CDC stresses that the best ways to prevent&nbsp; the flu is to get vaccinated against it and wash your hands properly, there's&nbsp; evidence that certain foods can help boost immunity and might help ward off&nbsp; colds and the flu. Here are a few you might not know about:Organic, Whole Milk:&nbsp;The findings of a just-released&nbsp; study on&nbsp;<a title="Organic Production Enhances Milk Nutritional Qualities" href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0082429" target="_blank">organic milk and fatty acid composition</a>, published in the&nbsp; reputable peer-reviewed journal PLOS one, indicate that organic milk&nbsp; contains a better balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids than conventional&nbsp; milk. And&nbsp;<a title="Omega-3s for Heart Health" href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/news/omega-3-heart-health-doable-challenge" target="_blank">omega-3s have been linked to tons of benefits</a>, including&nbsp; boosting immunity by increasing the activity of phagocytes, "cells that fight&nbsp; flu by eating up bacteria," says&nbsp;<a title="Cold and Flu Remedies: Prevention" href="http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/best-and-worst-natural-cold-and-flu-remedies/1-omega-3s" target="_self">Prevention</a>. You'll also get the most omega-3s from&nbsp; whole, rather than skim, milk though you'll have to weigh whether the extra&nbsp; total fat and calories are worth it to you.Pickled Turnips:&nbsp;"Scientists have discovered that eating a&nbsp; traditional Japanese pickle could have 'protective effects' in preventing people&nbsp; from catching the flu," according toThe Independent's recent&nbsp;<a title="Japanese Pickles Boost Immune System: The Independent" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/preventing-flu-scientists-find-bacteria-in-japanese-pickled-turnips-which-could-boost-immune-system-8924768.html" target="_blank">article on the immunity boosting properties of a friendly&nbsp; bacteria in the pickles called suguki</a>. If you can't find suguki,&nbsp; consider adding sauerkraut and kimchi to your menu --&nbsp; the lacto-fermentation process by which these and some other traditional&nbsp; pickled products are made produces probiotics (those good-for-you bugs most&nbsp; associated with yogurt).Red Grapes and Blueberries:&nbsp;These fruits may have<a title="Red Grapes and Blueberries Help Boost Immunity" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/red-grapes-blueberries-boost-immunity-study-article-1.1461143" target="_blank">&nbsp;"a significant benefit for immunity,"</a>&nbsp;according to a&nbsp;New York Daily News&nbsp;article reporting on an Oregon State University&nbsp; study. "Findings published in the journal&nbsp;Molecular Nutrition and Food&nbsp; Research&nbsp;showed that two compounds, resveratrol found in red grapes and&nbsp; pterostilbene found in blueberries, when combined with vitamin D, could boost&nbsp; the bodys ability to fend off illness." (Findings of a separate study,&nbsp; published in&nbsp;BMJ,&nbsp;<a title="Researchers find link between blueberries, grapes and apples and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes" href="http://www.bmj.com/press-releases/2013/08/29/researchers-find-link-between-blueberries-grapes-and-apples-and-reduced-ri" target="_blank">linked blueberries, grapes, and apples to reduced risk of type 2&nbsp; diabetes</a>.)Golden Kiwifruit:&nbsp;You might want to keep your eyes open in&nbsp; exotic fruit section of the grocery store for this sweet, yellow-fleshed kiwi,&nbsp; as a small study (funded by a fruit exporter, so take it with a grain of salt),&nbsp; suggested that this fruit could help with congestion and sore throats.&nbsp; (See&nbsp;The New Zealand Herald's&nbsp;<a title="Gold Kiwifruit Wonder Drugs for Colds" href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10774260" target="_blank">"gold kiwifruit 'wonder drug' for colds"</a>&nbsp;for more.) But&nbsp; if you can't find the gold kiwis, don't worry: Regular&nbsp;<a title="Surprising Superfoods" href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/news/superfoods-doable-challenges" target="_self">kiwi is an excellent source of vitamin C</a>."Five a Day":&nbsp;While many studies have drawn&nbsp; associations between certain nutrients (e.g. vitamin C or E) and increased&nbsp; immunity, the article&nbsp;<a title="Healthy Diet Fights Infection by Boosting Immune System" href="http://www.tuftshealthletter.com/ShowArticle.aspx?rowId=1222" target="_blank">Healthy&nbsp; Diet Fights Infection by Boosting Immune System</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;Tufts Health &amp; Nutrition&nbsp;Letter&nbsp;cites a study in which participants who&nbsp; increased their produce consumption from two to five servings per day of&nbsp;any&nbsp;fruit and vegetable saw increased immunity. Yet another reason to&nbsp; eat a balanced diet filled with&nbsp;whatever&nbsp;fruits and vegetables you&nbsp; love.&nbsp;For more immunity boosters, see&nbsp;<a title="Six Foods That Fight the Flu" href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/nutritiousdishes/flufightingfood" target="_self">Six Foods that Fight the Flu</a>&nbsp;for recommendations such as&nbsp; salmon, yogurt, and chiles from John La Puma, M.D., the author&nbsp; of&nbsp;<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/epistore-20/detail/0307394638" target="_new">Chef MD's Big Book of Culinary Medicine</a>, and the new&nbsp; book<a title="Refuel by John La Puma" href="http://www.amazon.com/Refuel-24-Day-Testosterone-Strength-Stamina/dp/077043746X/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Refuel</a>.Read More&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2013/12/surprising-immunity-boosting-foods-for-cold-and-flu-season.html#ixzz2nCke8onT">http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2013/12/surprising-immunity-boosting-foods-for-cold-and-flu-season.html#ixzz2nCke8onT</a></div></div>

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