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The Best Foods to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

The Best Foods to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

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The rainy season is not a pleasant moment for most people as it often causes immunity to drop. However, keep in mind that it's not the rain that makes you sick. It's just that, when your immunity is down, you do become susceptible to cold or influenza infections.

Research has found that a drop in body temperature during the rainy season, especially after getting caught in the rain, can lower your immune response. As a result, you are more susceptible to contracting the virus. In addition, cold weather causes nasal blood vessels to constrict which then prevents white blood cells from reaching the mucous membranes and helps to fight germs.

There are many ways to boost your immunity so you don't get sick easily during the rainy season. One of them is eating foods that can boost immunity naturally.

 

List of Foods that Can Boost Immunity Naturally

There are many natural foods around us that can help boost immunity naturally, including:

Citrus fruit

Citrus fruits and their types such as sweet oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and so on are excellent sources of vitamin C. The vitamin C in them plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body and supporting various bodily functions.

One of its best benefits is that it boosts the production and function of immune cells such as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help fight infections and diseases.

Broccoli

Apart from being a good source of nutrients because it is rich in calcium, fiber and vitamin K, broccoli is also high in vitamin C, which is good for your health. Its vitamin C helps boost the immune system and also speeds up wound healing.

Read more: Consuming Brokoli Vegetables, What Are The Benefits For The Body?

Garlic

Not everyone may like garlic, especially since its aroma is unpleasant for some people. However, garlic has long been used in ancient medicine as it has antimicrobial properties.

Garlic is known to contain active compounds such as allicin that have antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. These compounds help fight various types of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi, stimulate the production of immune cells, and help relieve inflammation in the blood.

Ginger

Several studies have shown that ginger can boost the immune response which helps the body fight infection and disease. In addition, compounds in ginger such as gingerol, paradol and zingerone have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation and fight oxidative stress in the body.

Spinach

Apart from broccoli, spinach is also one of the vegetables that are rich in nutrients and important compounds to boost the immune system. Beta-carotene is known to boost immune system function and protect body cells from free radical damage.

Spinach also contains vitamin C, which plays an important role in boosting the immune system and protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Read more: Spinach Can Prevent Cancer Cell Growth

Green tea

Green tea packed with with flavonoids. Where green tea really excels is in its levels of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), another powerful antioxidant. EGCG may have antiviral properties and immune system support.

 

While there are many foods that can help boost immunity, keep in mind that the immune system cannot be boosted instantly. A combination of a balanced diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, good stress management can help boost immunity and support overall well-being.

You may use our doctor consultation services regarding ways to boost the immune system through the Ai Care app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Play Store.

Want to know information about nutrition, food and other diet tips? Click here!

 

 

Writer : Agatha Writer
Editor :
  • dr. Monica Salim
Last Updated : Monday, 5 February 2024 | 08:30

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Carley Millhone (2023). Does Getting Wet From Rain Make You Sick?. Available from: https://www.health.com/can-rain-make-you-sick-7504768 

Mayo Clinic (2021). Boost your senses with citrus fruits. Available from: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/boost-your-senses-with-citrus-fruits 

Rahamat Unissa Syed, et all (2023). Broccoli: A Multi-Faceted Vegetable for Health: An In-Depth Review of Its Nutritional Attributes, Antimicrobial Abilities, and Anti-inflammatory Properties. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10376324/ 

University of Rochester Medical Center. Garlic. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx 

Jillian Kubala, MS, RD (2023). What Are Ginger Shots? Everything You Need to Know. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ginger-shots 

Mayo Clinic (2023). 10 great health foods. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/multimedia/health-foods/sls-20076653