It is critical to have a healthy immune system since it protects the body from various illnesses. Taking medication can protect you from some illnesses but other factors such as change of weather and stress can make you more susceptible to falling ill. The most effective way to protect yourself from illness is to boost your immune system and it is not as hard as it may appear.
Following a proper diet and eating nutritious foods boosts your immune system greatly. Read on to learn more about the top 5 immune boosting foods that you need to include in your diet.
1. Probiotic Yoghurt
Probiotic yoghurt is one of the best immune-boosting foods. Probiotic yoghurt is that which contains healthy bacteria known as probiotics. Probiotics help to ensure that your gut and intestines stay free of germs that cause disease. Studies have revealed that probiotic foods are important since they trigger immunoprotection. A good practice would be to check the label on your yoghurt carefully when buying to ensure that it does contain these healthy bacteria.
2. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C, which plays a critical role in maintaining the immune system. Vitamin C is a good antioxidant. The role of antioxidants in the body is fighting free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body that can cause mutation of the DNA. The more you work out the more the oxidation that happens and this is usually the main source of these free radicals. When it comes to antioxidants, more is not necessarily better but ensuring that you receive a healthy dose of Vitamin C daily from whole foods really helps in boosting your immune system. You can easily do this with a glass of orange juice with your breakfast.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is probably one of the most highly nutritious foods that you can include in your diet. It contains a wide range of vitamins and antioxidants. The vitamins and antioxidants are critical for boosting the immune system. To maintain the immune enhancing capabilities of broccoli, you should cook it only slightly since overcooking will destroy the antioxidants and vitamins.
4. Protein Shakes
Protein shakes are very good at boosting your immune system and are a great example of fortified foods. However, it is worth noting that not all protein shakes boost your immune system. Some protein shakes sold in the markets are designed specifically to boost your immune system. The immune-boosting protein shakes usually contain a high protein content making them important for growth and repair by making it easy for the immune system to build immune cells.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have gained a reputation for being a ‘super food.’ Sweet potatoes are full of minerals and vitamins that boost health. This root is not only rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin C but also Iron, which combined helps to boost the immune system. The dark color of the sweet potato also holds many beneficial immune boosting substances such as beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. Sweet potato is a versatile vegetable that you can mash, roast, or bake to complement your meals and has an amazing taste.
Final Thoughts
Medication is important for treating diseases but an even better thing would be to avoid falling ill in the first place. The best way to ensure that you do not fall ill often is using immune-boosting foods. All the foods discussed in this article are quite effective in boosting immunity and you should always ensure that you include them in your diet. If you include the foods discussed here in your diet, you will be pleasantly surprised at how effectively you will keep diseases and illnesses at bay.