Immune Boosting
FOODS TO KEEP STOCKED
by Tracey Pollack
Keeping your immune system up to par is especially important during this trying time.
So forget the pharmacy and head to the grocery store. Eating certain nutrient-packed foods helps
keep your immune system strong, which enables your body to fight off illness.
So treat yourself to these six immune-boosting foods to help you stay well all year long.
1. Squeeze in More Citrus –
Ever wonder why so many people turn to
vitamin C after coming down with a cold?
That’s because it helps build up your immune
system so your body can fight off infections.
So get some vitamin C in your system to
protect you from getting sick altogether! Some
of the best sources of this flu-fighting vitamin
are citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit,
tangerines, lemons and limes. So, go grab
some citrus to juice up your meals, along
with your body’s natural defenses.
2. Start Stalking Broccoli – This
superfood is supercharged with vitamins,
minerals, fiber and antioxidants that help
your body fend off disease. Broccoli and other
cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower,
cabbage and Brussels sprouts, help strengthen
your immune response and prevent you from
getting sick. See, these veggies contain a chemical compound
called glutathione, which helps increase your body’s natural
ability to fight off illness and infection. To maximize broccoli’s
benefits, cook very little or not at all.
3. Get Cultured with Yogurt – When
it comes to fighting off a cold or flu, your
body is craving probiotics. These are the
healthy bacteria found in yogurt that help
your immune system fight off infections
and germs. Research has shown that eating
yogurt high in probiotics can help boost your
immune response and reduce inflammation, which help your
body fight off sickness. Yogurt is also full of vitamin D, which may
also strengthen your natural defenses against disease.
4. Warm Up to Chicken Soup –This bowlful of comfort
may also be a spoonful of cure. Along with its power to protect
you from illness, there’s nothing quite like it when you're under
the weather. So why may chicken soup be the best medicine?
First of all, chicken is high in zinc, which is a mineral that boosts
the body’s production of the white blood cells that fight infection.
Next, the broth is brimming with collagen, which can help
strengthen your immune system. And when the chicken cooks in
the broth, it releases nutrients and amino acids that prevent the
inflammation that weakens your immune system. So while chicken
soup can be good for the soul, it’s may be even better for fighting
off illness.
5. Savor the Benefits of Garlic – Don’t turn your nose
up at garlic because it’s been boosting immunity and fighting
sickness for centuries. Renowned for its antiviral and antibacterial
properties, research has shown that garlic
stimulates the production of diseasefighting
white blood cells, which help fight
infections and prevent disease. To get the
most bang for garlic’s bite, allow chopped
garlic to sit for 15 minutes before cooking
to increase its healthy compounds.
6. Get Hooked on Fish –
Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and
mackerel are swimming with
omega-3 fatty acids that increase
your white blood cell activity,
which helps your body fight off
infections. Your immune system
also gets a healthy dose of
vitamin D. So when you’re trying to fight off sickness, eating fatty
fish can help tip the scales in your favor.
With staying healthy and strong being so important
right now, be sure to seek out these six immuneboosting
eats for a better shot at staying well.
56 Vol 39 • Extraordinary Health ™