Your Immune System Booster !

Certain foods may actually decrease your chances of getting sick, while others can help you recover more quickly if you do get ill.

Naturally, what you eat can majorly influence your immune health.

Lentils are a loaded with copper, a mineral that is a structural and functional component of an important antioxidant (called superoxide dismutase) that protects immune cells from oxidative damage. Copper can also help immune cells kill off bad bacteria. Another great source of copper is oysters, which may be one of the best immune-boosting foods.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of provitamin A carotenoids. Vitamin A is necessary for proper immune function, and it helps reinforce our barriers against disease-causing organisms.

Red bell peppers are somewhat surprisingly one of the best dietary sources of vitamin C, which is virtually synonymous with an optimally functioning immune system. On one hand, vitamin C is basically a weapon used by immune cells during an attack, and on the other hand, vitamin C protects the immune cells from free radical damage.

Cruciferous vegetables

Although all vegetables have nutrients and some protective powers, for these vegetables, it’s off the charts. Cruciferous vegetables have a special chemical composition: They have sulfur-containing compounds that are responsible for their pungent flavors. When they’re broken down by biting, blending, or chopping, a chemical reaction occurs that converts these sulfur-containing compounds into isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs prevent and knock out cancer and have infinite proven immune-boosting capabilities.

They contain antiviral and antibacterial agents that keep you disease free. Adding the following cruciferous vegetables to your daily plate is like taking an anticancer pill: arugula, beet greens, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, red cabbage, turnip greens, or watercress.

Eggs are packed with protein. A three egg omelet provides about 20 grams of protein just from the eggs. As you may know, protein is essential for maintaining lean muscle as you age as well as keeping trim around your waistline due to it's calorie-burning power.

Aren't eggs "bad" for you because they are high in cholesterol?

Well, believe it or not numerous studies have shown that dietary cholesterol intake has very little impact on your blood cholesterol, unless you are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol levels. For everyone else, your body self regulates cholesterol levels and balances the cholesterol it makes on its own with the cholesterol you consume in your diet.

Nutrients galore! Vitamin A, K, D, B12, selenium, riboflavin, folate, potassium, and calcium just to name a few! Eggs, particularly the yolks, are full of metabolism-supporting, brain-boosting vitamins and minerals.

Salmon (preferably wild) is one of the best dietary sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which help support a healthy inflammatory response. While inflammation is a key tool of the immune system, inappropriate activation can be problematic. Other good sources of EPA and DHA are herring, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, oysters, and mussels.

Dry fruits like walnuts, almonds and dates provide the essential vitamins and minerals for building immunity. They contain vitamin E, niacin and riboflavin. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps keep cells healthy. Consuming nuts may help you adapt and react to stress better.

Keeping your immune system healthy is very important, no matter the season.

Iron-Rich Foods

Iron is a mineral that plays an important role in immune function. A diet containing too little iron can contribute to anemia and weaken the immune system.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/177263

That's why it's important to optimize your intake of iron – rich foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, legumes, nuts, seeds, cruciferous vegetables and dried fruit.

You can also improve your absorption of iron from foods by using cast-iron pots and pans to cook, and avoiding tea or coffee with meals.

Combining iron-rich foods with a source of vitamin C can help boost your absorption even further.

Antioxidant supplementation is thought to improve immunity and thereby reduce infectious morbidity. However, few large trials in elderly people have been conducted that include end points for clinical variables.

The most severe consequence of iron depletion is iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and it is still considered the most common nutrition deficiency worldwide. Although the etiology of IDA is multifaceted, it generally results when the iron demands by the body are not met by iron absorption, regardless of the reason.

Individuals with IDA have inadequate intake, impaired absorption or transport, physiologic losses associated with chronological or reproductive age, or chronic blood loss secondary to disease. In adults, IDA can result in a wide variety of adverse outcomes including diminished work or exercise capacity, impaired thermoregulation, immune dysfunction, GI disturbances, and neurocognitive impairment.

 In addition, IDA concomitant with chronic kidney disease or congestive heart failure can worsen the outcome of both conditions.

Mounting research confirms that sun avoidance may be at the heart of a large number of health problems. Not only does your body produce vitamin D in response to sun exposure on bare skin, but sunlight also produces a number of other health benefits that are unrelated to vitamin D production.

In fact, humans appear to have a lot in common with plants in this regard — we both need direct sun exposure in order to optimally thrive, and while artificial lighting sources offering specific light spectrums may be helpful for various problems, ideally we need the full spectrum of light that natural sunlight offers.

There is one benefit that I experience every day of my life - I am a SUN LOVER - my mood is always boosted by the appearance and expectation of the day's sun in the morning when I wake up - this boosted mood will last till the evening when I meditate before the setting of the sun - whenever I gaze at the marvel of our energy source [the sun} – after that go out for my long walk…this is my exercise.---also to work in my garden.

Your thoughts ………………?

The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional ALLERGIST’S advice . All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.

Thank you … Want to fight off that illness that’s spreading around the office or your child’s school? Aside from practicing good hygiene, boosting your immune system is a great way to start.

Your diet plays a part in strengthening your immune system. Sadly, too many of us don’t eat enough of the fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods we need to keep ourselves healthy year-round, plus normal sleep patterns and a hefty dose of exercise and vitamin D.