People are always looking for new ways to increase their immune systems. A lot of products are placed on the market for consumers to try, but there is hardly every anything that’s as effective as nature’s ingredients. The earth has a great supply of immunity boosting foods that we should all be aware of. Search the food markets and the organic food aisles before seeking unnatural chemicals. The following is a list of natural foods that are sure to increase you immune system:
Mushrooms
Herbal medicines are much more common in people’s medicine cabinets these days. And a lot of these people are sure to have mushrooms as a part of their diet to increase their body’s immunity. One of the natural reactions in the body from mushroom consumption is the production of infection fighting cells called cytokines. Also present in the mushrooms are polysaccharides, which are compounds for naturally supporting the immune system.
Vitamin C
Citrus fruits will contain a high potency of Vitamin C. Many studies have been done that show that fruits containing Vitamin C reduce cold symptoms. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant, and as little as 1 gram is enough to reduce many cold symptoms. It’s not just citrus fruits that are high in Vitamin C. There are several natural foods that are. To help boost the immune system, people can eat tomatoes, broccoli, papaya, and butternut squash, just to name a few.
Ginger
Ginger has long been an asset for many people when they’re feeling a little under the weather. Some of the symptoms we often feel are a scratchy throat and a nagging cough. Immunity can be boosted with the chemicals contained in ginger called sesquiterpenes. These chemicals are able to combat the cold viruses that attack the body. It will help suppress many of the symptoms, and assist in restoring health. A person’s fever can also be lowered by the natural healing properties of ginger.
Honey
There are a number of attributes of honey that can help boost immune systems. Honey is able to coat your throat, which makes it good for soothing a sore throat. The immune boosting abilities make it an antioxidant, with antimicrobial properties. This helps honey to fight off infections, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. There are several types of honey, but some are more effective than others in boosting immunity. Buckwheat honey will have the highest antioxidant levels to help immune levels. Whereas, the most common honey, clover honey, will have the lowest antioxidant levels.
Yogurt
Many people have figured out how well eating just one cup of yogurt a day will make them feel. This practice has made people much more resistant to colds, with studies actually revealing by about 25 percent. Some of the bacteria in yogurt are actually beneficial. Lactobacillus reuteri is actually able to stop the duplication of viruses in the body whenever we get sick. Not all yogurts will contain the necessary bacteria. People should “go organic” to insure it’s the right type of yogurt, and always check the labels.
