It’s always worth maintaining a good immune system, but it’s even more important now the cold weather is coming. I’m constantly researching the best foods to boost my immune system because I feel it’s better than taking supplements. If nothing else, it’s certainly more delicious! Here are my top suggestions for boosting your immune system with food.
1. Garlic
Garlic is a personal favorite of mine, and not just for the flavor. Garlic is great for keeping infections at bay thanks to a number of compounds, including allicin. Many of these compounds are present in all alliums (onions etc.), but they’re particularly concentrated in garlic. It’s also believed to lower blood pressure.
2. Ginger
Ginger is known as a great anti-inflammatory, which is why it’s often suggested for sore throats. Ginger is also excellent at settling your stomach, so always keep some ginger tea on hand. If you’re cooking with ginger, fresh is always better because it’ll contain higher levels of the active ingredients.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is a great choice if you’re looking to boost your immune system with food because it contains high levels of vitamins A, C and E. In fact, it contains more vitamin C than oranges! What’s more, broccoli is full of fiber, and while this isn’t going to boost your immune system, it’s obviously helpful for digestive health. And remember, the health of one bodily system has an impact on the health of the other systems.
4. Spinach
Spinach is great for maintaining a healthy immune system because it’s rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants. As we all know it’s also high in iron, which is just as important. When eating spinach, make sure you cook it as little as possible, if at all. You’ll only need to cook it for about 30 seconds or so.
5. Citrus
Citrus fruits are probably the most popular choice when it comes to immune-boosting foods. They’re well known for their high levels of vitamin C, which is key to immune health. It doesn’t really matter what kind of citrus you choose – oranges, lemons, limes, etc. – but just make sure you’re getting plenty of them. Eating the fruit, rather than just drinking the juice, has the obvious benefit of fiber too.
6. Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are a good choice because they can be eaten on their own or easily added to other dishes. They contain vitamin B-6 and E, along with magnesium, phosphorus, and a number of other nutrients. Sunflower seeds are also believed to be a source of “good” fats that maintain heart health.
These are just some of my favorite foods for boosting your immune system, but there are plenty of others. Hopefully, this article will prompt you to do more research into the best ways of boosting your immune system with food. The key is to vary your diet and to make sure you get plenty of fruit and vegetables.
However, you also need to make sure that your diet is balanced, which means paying attention to your portions and getting enough of each food. Doing this will help you maintain a healthy immune system while also contributing to your overall wellbeing.