7 Foods to Boost Your Immune System
Written by Lovelyn on November 7, 2008 – 12:45 pm -
Winter is quickly approaching and with it comes cold and flu season. I’m not an advocate of the flu shot, but I am an advocate of a healthy lifestyle to prevent getting sick.
There are foods that have been shown to boost the immune system. Incorporating them into your diet will help decrease your chances of getting sick this winter.
Garlic—Garlic contains allicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates. These compounds are great for fighting viral and bacterial, and fungal infections. It also increases circulation and helps lower blood pressure.
Kefir or Yogurt—These fermented dairy products contain cultures that feed the good bacteria in your gut. Yes, there are good bacteria. These good bacteria help regulate your immune system. Keeping them happy and well fed will do you a world of good.
Mushrooms—Mushrooms help boost white blood cell production. They also make your white blood cells more aggressive. You want your white blood cells to be like vicious pit bulls when an infection enters your blood stream. Shiitake and maitake mushrooms do the most to amp up your immune system.
Oysters—Oysters are packed with zinc. Zinc promotes white blood cell production and strengthens antibodies. If you can’t stand oysters take a good supplement with zinc in it.
Carrots—Carrots contain beta carotene. Beta carotene helps promote white blood cell and T cell production.
Spinach, Kale, and Collards—These dark leafy greens contain folate. Folate helps prevent DNA and blood vessel damage. Try this great recipe for kale.
Oranges—The vitamin C in oranges helps shorten he duration of colds.
I hope these tips will help prevent you from getting sick this winter.
Photo by SantaRosa OLD SKOOL
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Tags: cold, flu, food, health, immune system
Posted in Healthy Living |
November 7th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
This is good to know because I love oysters on the half shell!
November 11th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Excellent tips!
As for the flu shot I am actually greatly opposed to it. There are just way more cons then pros to it and it is after all a pharmaceutically driven operation for increasing profits, not really addressing the core state of one’s health
The way to optimal and constant good health, regardless of the season is as you say to eat right and the foods you list above have excellent properties to increase the benefits for our systems even more.
I do have to add one more thing though and that is our thoughts. They have a HUGE part to play in whether we will get sick or not. I have even come to the conclusion that it isn’t even so much about the cold that stresses our body as it is the holidays and the strains of the holiday season. It starts with Thanksgiving and carries over to Christmas and the New Year. We stress more than ever during the next couple of months, we run around more than ever, we take on more tasks more than ever and over indulge in food and drinks more than ever. So is it any wonder why our bodies react as they do?
That is why again it takes great consciousness not to fall into the above trap and be able to always have great health!
November 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Evita. Your right abut the holidays. I didn’t even consider how the stress of that time of year could affect your body. My family has never really been into the holidays so it’s not really a stressful time for me at all, but I know that it is for most people.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
The style of writing is quite familiar . Have you written guest posts for other bloggers?
August 24th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
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