Food is essential for our everyday living and our body. Our body and its functions are completely dependent upon the kind of food we eat.
There may be many individuals around who are fit, working out, eating healthy and in their ideal body weight but still end up catching cold and flu very often. This indicates the low immunity levels. That may be because they lack the immunity boosting foods and the the right nutrients in their diet.
So, nourishing our body with the nutrients and foods is very important so that we are not only healthy from the outside, but, our body is healthy from the inside as well. So, here is the list of foods, that help in boosting our immunity and to be included in our everyday diet.
GINGER - Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Ginger helps in decreasing inflammation in the body, reduces sore throat and other anti-inflammatory issues.
GARLIC - The compound allicin present in garlic helps in boosting immunity. This food is more effective when pressed slightly and consumed raw.
SPINACH - Spinach is packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, E and beta- carotene which increases the infection fighting ability of our immune system. Spinach also has high amount of folate, Vitamin A, fiber, magnesium, iron . These nutrients in spinach also boost immune function and provide body with necessary nutrients for cell division and DNA repair. Spinach is to be slightly cooked to to retain nutrients and enhance release of Vitamin A.
GREEN TEA - Green Tea is packed with flavonoids which is a type of anti-oxidant which in turn helps in boosting immunity.
TURMERIC - Curcumin present in turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
DARK CHOCOLATE - A good quality dark chocolate has an antioxidant called theobromine, which helps boost the immune system by protecting the body’s cells from free radicals.
ONION - Raw onions are rich in quercetin which highly helps in boosting the immune system. For better results, consume a few slices of raw onion in every meal.
MUSHROOMS - High in selenium and B vitamins like riboflavin and niacin, which play a role in healthy immune functioning. Mushrooms are also rich in polysaccharides, a sugar like molecule that boosts immune function.
POMEGRANATE JUICE - Consuming pomegranate juice promotes the growth of beneficial gut flora that boosts the immune system.
WATERMELON - An immune boosting seasonal fruit, rich in vitamins, minerals and also an antioxidant called as glutathione. Glutathione strengthens the immune system and helps fight infections.
SWEET POTATOES - Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene when enters the body, turns into Vitamin A, which mops up the damaging free radicals.
YOGURT - Yogurt is probiotic in nature. These probiotics help maintain the bacterial balance in the stomach, keeping our gut healthy, which is a key to good immunity. Yogurt made at home is more effective since the packaged and commercially available ones come with additives.
BROCCOLI - Broccoli is rich in Vitamin C and sulforaphane which is another potent antioxidant.
The foods mentioned above are economical in season and are easily available without having to spend a lot of money and look for them at places. So, include these foods in your everyday diet and reap the benefits for the healthier you both inside and outside.