AVOID H1N1 FLU

HERE ARE NINE FOODS THAT COULD HELP YOU AVOID SWINE FLU:

It's taken five months, but the swine flu vaccine will finally be available this Tuesday. There should be 200 million doses by the end of the year, and another 50 million by May. Kids, pregnant women, and health care workers are first in line.

Which means you might not be able to get YOUR vaccine for a while. So until then, here are nine things that can boost your immune system, and help keep you from getting the swine . . . sorry, "H1N1" virus.

#1.) WATER. First off, make sure you're drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day, minimum. If you're drinking less than that, it can compromise your immune system

#2.) YOGURT. It has "probiotics," which are healthy bacteria that keep your intestines germ-free. In a Swedish study, 181 factory workers took a probiotic supplement, and they ended up using 33 percent fewer sick days than their co-workers did.

#3.) CHICKEN SOUP. Researchers have found that almost every type of chicken soup is good for a cold. Except chicken-flavored ramen noodles. It's because an amino acid in chicken mimics a bronchitis drug called acetylcysteine (--pronounced a-set-ill-SIS-teen). --And the salty broth keeps mucus thin, the same way cough medicine does.

#4.) OATS AND BARLEY. When ANIMALS eat it, they're less likely to get the flu, herpes, and even anthrax. When WE eat it, it boosts immunity, makes injuries heal faster, and might even help antibiotics work better.

#5.) FISH. Oysters, lobster, crabs, and clams help white blood cells produce proteins that kill flu viruses. And salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which help increase airflow in your lungs, and prevent respiratory infections.

#6.) GARLIC. An ingredient in garlic called "allicin" (--pronounced AL-iss-in) fights off infections and bacteria. In a British study, people who took a garlic extract for three months were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. --And other studies show that garlic lowers your risk of certain types of cancer.

#7.) MUSHROOMS. They force your body to make more white blood cells, which fight off infectious disease. Plus, those cells your body makes then tend to be more aggressive than normal. That means they'll be more efficient in ridding your body of a nasty virus.

#8.) TEA. In a Harvard study, people who drank five cups of black tea every day for two weeks were ten times less likely to get the flu. It's because black and green tea both have a certain amino acid that boosts the amount of something called interferon in your blood.

#9.) SWEET POTATOES. Your skin is your largest organ, and it covers an impressive 16 square feet. It's also your first line of defense in the fight against bacteria and viruses. To stay healthy, your skin needs vitamin A. And sweet potatoes are loaded with it. (Prevention.com)