With the winter flu season approaching, there has never been a better time to include fresh fruit in your daily diet to ward off coughs and sniffles.
The vitamin-rich, immune-system-boosting properties of apples, oranges and other items found in the office fruit box are well-documented, but according to health writer Jane Claxton-Oldfield, there is still no better food source to help reduce the risk of falling ill this winter.
"It is crucial to include as many fresh fruits into your daily diet as possible," said Ms Claxton-Oldfield, who adds that it is also important to drink plenty of water, especially when you have a cold or flu.
The advice is particularly relevant with many worried about the spread of the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu.
But an apple a day really can keep the doctor away: the fruit contains elements which detoxify the body and have antiviral properties.
Ms Claxton-Oldfield said: "While there is much practical advice readily available on how to protect yourself from flu by practising good hygiene measures, it seems little is being said about the benefits of healthy eating habits.
"Fresh fruit offers protection by way of achieving and maintaining a healthy immune system – which, after all, is the first line of defence against any disease."
Rick Gamble
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