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Best Foods to Boost the Immune System

What you eat can go a long in determining your longevity and robustness. Whole foods, occurring in their natural state, are most beneficial for the body and most of them contribute to strengthening the immune system. In this article we provide a list of some effective foods you can eat to boost your immune system and improve your overall body robustness.

Best Foods to Boost Immunity

1.) Blueberries – These berries contain strong anti-oxidants in their pigments, and an anti-oxidant chemical called Anthocyanins in the flesh, which helps boost the immune system, and fights against inflammation causing free radicals created through the consumption of certain unhealthy foods. These antioxidants also help boost your mental acuity, nerve response, macular degeneration and colon health.

2.) Fish oil – You can obtain fish oil through the consumption of oily fish like Salmon, by taking supplements of Cod liver oil or by using fish oil in your cooking. Fish oil is a rich source of Omega3 and Omega6 fatty acids that are essential towards improving immune system. Fish like Salmon also have a high concentration of Vitamin E, which is a strong anti-oxidant.

3.) Figs – You can eat these fruits fresh or eat the dry fruit variety. It’s easy to purchase figs as dry fruits all year long. These fruits are powerhouses of essential minerals like potassium and manganese while also possessing antioxidants that boost your immune system. Figs cannot be neglected in a diet aimed at improving immunity in the body.

4.) Pistachios – Also known as “Pista”, these nuts are so rich in anti-oxidants that it can single handedly strengthen your body’s immune system. Pistas were eaten by royalities in ancient India to ensure good health, and these nuts are a little expensive but the benefits of eating them are so immense that one should at least have a fistful of these nuts thrice a week.

5.) Ginger – Since ancient times, Ginger has been regarded as a healing root. It has anti-bacterial properties, and can be used to cure infections like a sore throat, running nose or stomach ailments. Studies have revealed that ginger can help kill the influenza viruses. Drinking some ginger tea, or ginger juice in honey, can effectively strengthen your immune system and protect you against sore throats, colds or flu.

6.) Kiwi – One fruit of kiwi packs more vitamin C than orange, and contains phytonutrients that have the ability to protect the DNA in the nucleus of human cells. Vitamin C in itself is a water-soluble anti-oxidant that has the capacity to neutralize free radicals that cause inflammation and cancer formation. Eating a couple of Kiwi fruits thrice a week, can go a long way in improving your immune system.

7.) Pomegranate – This wonder fruit packs a wallop of health boosting antioxidants, and its juice is claimed to be stronger in anti-oxidant capacity than green tea or red wine. Pomegranate juice has anti-microbial properties and effectively kills disease causing bacteria present in the stomach like E.coli. The antioxidants present in this fruit help fight against inflammations and even shrink existing tumors.

8.) Raw Carrots: Carrots are packed with beta carotene that aids the immunity system. Eat them raw. If you cook the carrots the beta carotene are destroyed. So eat them raw during lunch/dinner/breakfast or as snacks. They are also very filling.

9.) Lemon Juice: Excellent source of vitamin C. To get maximum benefits, juice a lemon, add water and drink it without salt/sugar. If you can tolerate the taste, consider juicing raw ginger and mixing with lemon. Drink it on an empty stomach as you get up in the morning. This is not recommended if you have stomach ulcers.

10.) Other Foods: Other foods like Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Crab Meat, Spinach, Green Tea, Sunflower Seeds, Falx Seeds, Dates and Yogurt are known to be immunity boosting foods.

When you are specifically planning of including foods to boost the immune system, the above list can be of great help – tried and tested foods that improve your immune system and help fight against microbial infections, inflammations and cancerous reactions.