Herbal Tea
People who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood than others who drank a placebo hot drink, in a Harvard study. The amino acid that’s responsible for this immune boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green tea—decaf versions have it, too.
Turmeric
A key ingredient in many curries, this bright yellow, bitter spice has been used for years as an anti-inflammatory in treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, a recent study published in BBA Clinical demonstrates that high concentrations of curcumin, which gives turmeric its distinct color, have been shown to help reduce exercise-induced muscle damage.