Start boosting your immune system today - to stay healthy

Want to Stay Healthy by Boosting Your Immune System?

Food Choices Make a Huge Difference

The simple things we hear about every day - wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance - will have a big impact on ending this pandemic.  But the current pandemic is a dramatic reminder of the importance of good health and doing our best to keep it.

Have you ever noticed that you catch colds more often than your friends?  Seem more run-down than most people?  A below-average immune system could likely be the cause.  The immune system, which includes biological warriors like white blood cells as well as organs like the spleen and lymph nodes, is enormously important for fighting off viruses, bacteria, and other invaders causing disease.  Good news!  The immune system can be strengthened by informed food choices.

Immune Boosting Foods

In general, which foods tend to boost your immune system?

• Protein promotes healing and recovery. Good protein foods are seafood, lean meat, poultry, eggs, beans and peas, and unsalted nuts/seeds.

• Vitamin A promotes healthy tissues in the mouth, stomach, intestines and respiratory system. Sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, spinach, red bell peppers, apricots, and eggs are all strong choices.  

• Vitamin C stimulates antibodies. Good choices here include oranges, grapefruit and tangerines, red bell pepper, papaya, strawberries, and tomato juice.

• Vitamin E works as an antioxidant, supportive of immune function. Fortified cereals, sunflower seeds, almonds, vegetable oils, hazelnuts, and peanut butter are good choices.

• Other nutrients, including zinc, vitamins B6/B12, copper, folate, selenium, and iron also may support immune responses.

Take-away:  The immune system is enormously important to good health. Therefore, it’s important to strengthen your immune system, and your food choices will have a huge impact. Be Well Nutrition Consulting can guide you to foods boosting your immune system - and most of which are even good tasting!  Contact me for an appointment to talk about it.  In the meantime, stay healthy and safe in these challenging times.