When talking about boosting your immune system, most people feel you need to reach for some over-the-counter medication, supplements etc. but do you r
When talking about boosting your immune system, most people feel you need to reach for some over-the-counter medication, supplements etc. but do you really? In this article, we’re going to take a more natural approach and see how to change your eating habits to positively affect your immune system.
It’s true, you can increase your overall health and body’s immune response by making some modifications to the foods you consume on a daily basis. And now we’re going to see what are some of the foods that most influence it.
Fruits and Greens – For Vitamin C Boost
Of course, we start with the granddaddy of immune boosting vitamins – C! If you want to make your body healthier, kick your immune system into a higher gear and help fight off infections, you should eat vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, grapefruits, peppers, strawberries, kiwis etc.
And, rather than sticking to just one type of fruit (oranges for example), you should switch between these and get your vitamin C dosage from different sources.
Vegetables and Greens
Vegetables and greens are right in beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A. This vitamin helps the body respond to viruses better by stimulating the antibodies response.
Such beta-carotene rich foods are, of course, carrots, but also spinach, kale, sweet potatoes etc.
Bonus Supplementation Tip
From our extensive experience with patients, we’ve learned that some will follow your advice, while others want something that’s a bit easier and does not require so much sacrifice (as changing your diet does).
For those among you, we’ve put together a list of the most common immune system boosting supplementation you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Vitamin D supplements – this vitamin helps with osteoporosis, some types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases and, some latest research suggest it also boosts the immune system.
- Zinc – you might not even know this but zinc is a commonly added mineral to most healthcare products and supplements. It helps reduce inflammation, fights off foreign pathogens and improves cell development and communication.
- Peptide supplements – in recent years we saw an explosion in peptide-based supplementation but if you don’t want mixes and supplementations, you can just choose one and stick to it, such as thymosin 1 alpha. The good thing about this peptide is that it’s sold online, so you can browse some reputable online suppliers and you’ll for sure find thymosin alpha 1 for sale, at a reasonable price.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are an awesome substitution for your unhealthy snacks and might also help you lose some weight. These foods are right in vitamin E which helps support and regulate the immune system.
Fish and Eggs
Vitamin D is commonly found in fish (salmon, tuna, etc), but also in egg yolks and mushrooms. And as we already mentioned, this vitamin helps with a whole host of potential problems and diseases but, most importantly, boosts your immune system as well.
Garlic
Adding garlic to your diet is probably the best thing you can do for your immune system! Garlic contains compounds which help your immune system cells fight off germs and other pathogens. It also boosts the production of virus-fighting T-cells. Garlic is an immune system powerhouse and if you are avoiding it, you are doing your body a huge disservice!
Shellfish
Shellfish might not be everyone’s cup of tea (not to mention they can be a bit pricey), but they are a fantastic source of zinc, a mineral our body does not produce on its own!
Hopefully, by now, you see the immense power of the food we eat and how we can steer it in the direction we need; whether it be losing weight or making us healthier. The choice is up to you, now make it happen!
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