Natural Immune System Boosters:
1) Sweet Potato:
It is a rich source of vitamin A and C. One medium sized sweet potato offers you 110% of your daily vitamin A requirement and 32% of your daily vitamin C requirement. These vitamins boost immunity naturally to fight against diseases including bacterial and viral infections.
2) Broccoli:
It is a nutrient-rich food that you can consume to improve your immunity. From just one cup of broccoli you can get as much vitamin C as you can get from a medium sized orange. This green veggie is also rich in potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc and a wide range of vitamin B that include B1, B2, B3, B6. This combination of minerals and vitamins helps the immune system to run in top form. Besides this, it also contains glutathione, which is a powerful antioxidant.
3) Pomegranate Juice:
Pomegranate promotes the growth of good bacteria in the gut or intestinal flora that improves immune system. It also helps fight bacteria such as Salmonella, Yersinia, and Clostridium and also has antiviral properties that helps fight against flu, and other viruses.
4) Tea:
Both black and green tea contain antioxidants such as flavonoids or polyphenols that help maintain and promote immunity and immune functions.
5) Ginger:
Ginger is a widely used herb in Ayurveda owing to its potent medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. Besides this, the antioxidants in ginger help reduce free radicals and protect from cancer, arthritis, infections, and more.
6) Turmeric:
This yellow spice is widely used in cooking as a key ingredient in many curries. It is rich in curcumin that may help increase immunity by improving the immunomodulation capacity of the body. Add more turmeric to your food when you are suffering from flu or viral infections.
7) Citrus fruits:
Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapes, including lemons are rich sources of Vitamin C. The vitamin C helps strengthen immune system and is also believed to enhance the production of white blood cells (WBCs) in our body. The WBCs play a major role in fighting infections in our body.
8) Papaya:
Although it is not a citrus fruit, it is loaded with vitamin C. A single papaya can give 210 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C. Furthermore, it also contains digestive enzyme papain and potassium, folate, vitamin B that improves your overall health.
9) Mushrooms:
Rich in selenium and vitamin B (riboflavin, niacin, etc) and polysaccharides that help keep immune system strong and improve its functioning.
10) Yogurt:
Yogurts that contain live and active cultures help stimulate immune system. Prefer eating plain yogurts rather than flavored or sweetened yogurt. You may also get vitamin D from yogurt that regulates immune system and promotes body’s natural defense against infections.
