Ginger Ale

Flat sodas (never drink fizzy drinks when fighting the flu), and in particular ginger ale, can help soothe upset stomachs. Some studies also suggest that it may help fight inflammation. When shopping, try to choose natural ginger sodas, which have more real ginger content in them. You also can opt to brew your own ginger tea by slicing up ginger and steeping in hot water for several minutes or add slices of ginger with your favorite, soothing tea blend to ease your stomach and give you comfort. If you aren’t a tea drinker, you can try adding freshly grated or powdered ginger to other foods for the same effect. 

Vegetable Juice

Getting your daily recommended servings of fruit and vegetables is probably a challenge even when you’re feting your best. When you’re ill, eating your vegetables is probably low on your list of priorities, but they are essential to getting enough immune-boosting antioxidants to help your body fight off and recover from the flu. One way to get this jolt of vitamins and antioxidants is to drink a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice once a day (or several times a day).

Chicken Soup

In addition to being a great source of nutrition that helps keep you hydrated, some studies show that chicken soup may boost your healing and have some anti-inflammatory effects. Some studies have even found that chicken soup can improve the ability of cilia - the tiny, hair-like linings of the nasal passages -- to protect the body from bacteria and viruses.

Garlic

Garlic has long been known for its healing and protective properties -- from protecting against vampires to helping boost immunity. Science has backed this -- a British study found that garlic has antimicrobial and immune-stimulating properties thanks in part to the phytochemical allicin, and it may even give you some relief from the congestion caused by the flu. The study also found that people who are taking allicin supplements regularly suffered from 46 percent fewer colds and recovered more quickly from the ones they did get. So cooking with garlic during flu season (recommended intake is two cloves a day), can actually help keep you from getting sick in the first place. Try making a garlic paste with olive oil and spreading it on toast to give your immune system a kick.