IMMUNE BOOSTERS
In order to keep your body's immune system strong, certain foods must be included in your diet on a regular basis. This eventually helps you to prevent the flu, colds, and other infections while you may be attacked when stepping out of the home. Your first take should be going to your local grocery store to buy the required immune boosters on hand and plan your meals accordingly to include these below immune system boosters.
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C helps in stimulating the formation of antibodies in our body system. All the citrus fruits like lemons, strawberries, oranges, kiwis, grapefruits, tangerines, limes and red bell peppers are rich in Vitamin C.
Many of us often immediately turn to Vitamin C after we catch a cold. This is only because Vit C helps in building up the immune system.
VITAMIN A (BETA CAROTENE)
To keep your intestines, respiratory system, eyes and skin healthy, a lot of Vitamin A-rich foods must be included in your daily diet intake. Foods like carrots, broccoli, red bell peppers, spinach and sweet potato are quite rich in vitamin A.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E is essential to our body as it promotes neutralization by working as an antioxidant. Foods with rich vitamin E are nuts, seeds, avocado and vegetable oil.
PROTEIN
The T-cells which are the cells that protect the human body against pathogens need specific amino acids that are usually found in proteins. Poultry, meats, seafood, and dairy products like eggs,beans, seeds and nuts are plenty rich in proteins. Mushrooms, tofu, paneer and dals are also rich in protein content. Proteins help your immune system work more efficiently and effectively. But note that too much protein intake in your body is also not good. Don’t go overboard and have these nutrients in a moderate count.
ZINC
The deficiency of Zinc leads to immune dysfunction as there are many zinc-dependant enzymes in our body. Foods rich in Zinc include meat, seafood, nuts, beans and seeds.
GARLIC
Almost in every cuisine in the world garlic is the one ingredient mostly used as it adds a little zing to the food and is also a must-have for your health. Garlic helps your body fight against infections and aids in lowering blood pressure. Garlic is well known and used in regular food consumption for its immune-boosting properties.
GINGER
Another most trusted and used ingredient after getting sick is ginger. Ginger helps decrease inflammation thereby aiding to reduce sore throat and nausea, and helps in decreasing chronic pain and inflammatory illnesses. Ginger is also used widely in many sweet desserts. It also possesses cholesterol-lowering properties which is why some people intake a glass of lukewarm water with a piece of ginger and caraway seeds together early in the morning soon after they wake up.
YOGHURT
Yoghurt may stimulate your immune system to aid and help in fighting, and attacking the diseases in your body. Plain yoghurt is the best option rather than having the flavoured ones loaded with a lot of sugar. Instead, you can sweeten the plain yoghurt yourself with a load of healthy fresh fruits, nuts and a spoon of honey.
Yoghurt also is a great source of Vitamin D that regulates the immune system and boosts our body's natural defences against diseases.
TURMERIC
Turmeric is one of the key ingredients in many dishes and curries. It's a regular spice in most of our daily intake diet of ours. Turmeric for years is used as an anti-inflammatory in treating both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Turmeric also helps in decreasing exercise-included muscle damage.