The immune system is one of the most important parts of human health, mainly because it is responsible for keeping the rest of our body healthy. Although we don’t like to think about it this way, our bodies are constantly under attack from environmental, biological, psychosocial, physical, bacterial, fungal, and viral agents that are trying to make us anything but healthy. We are unaware of all the work our body does to maintain our health, but it is vital that we keep our immune system functioning at a high, efficient level so we can live healthily.
Here are some foods you should try to fit into your diet, either on a daily basis or at least a few times a week to help boost your immunity:
Cinnamon
Next time you go to make yourself a hot chocolate or cup of tea, try sprinkling in some cinnamon. Not only is it the most festive smell around, but cinnamon is great for your gut and immune system as a whole. It can reduce bacteria’s ability to multiply, and if you do end up suffering from a cold, it should help it clear up quicker. You could try mixing it with raw honey, which has similar properties.
Oranges
You need to make sure that your body has plenty of vitamin C during the colder months as it helps your body fight off infections. Vitamin C can’t be stored by your body so you need to try and incorporate foods that are rich in vitamin C every day. If you’re not a fan of oranges then you could try eating more tomatoes, peas, and peppers, take a vitamin C supplement or drink hot lemon
Watermelon
They can be tricky to get hold of winter but watermelons contain citrulline, which helps keep your heart healthy, and they’re rich in vitamins A, C, and B6 too. Their red flesh supplies your body with lycopene, helping your bones stay strong and your immune system balanced.
Broccoli
When it comes to choosing your five-a-day, make sure broccoli becomes a firm favorite as it’s bursting with nutrients and contains choline which is good for your gut. Instead of cooking your broccoli, try to eat it raw if you can, as it’s more nutritious this way. Similar vegetables that are classed as super foods when it comes to your immune system include sprouts, kale and cauliflower.
Oysters
If you want to be as healthy as possible you need to make sure your body has enough zinc. There are a number of different ways you can do this. You can take a zinc supplement or try eating oysters, eggs, mushrooms, chicken, pumpkin seeds or cashew nuts more regularly. Zinc is needed for white blood cell production so your body can fight off infection and for healthy skin, hair and nails.
Yoghurt
You need to choose yoghurt that contains friendly bacteria as these help your immune system fight against bad bacteria in the gut. They can also encourage your body to produce more white blood cells. IN addition make sure your yoghurt