Everyone wants a immune boosting vitamins, and following the right diet can keep it so – and prevent infections from damaging your health. Unfortunately, lots of people fail to consume enough fresh vegetables and fruit, and other wholesome foods that can maintain their health throughout the year. Wholesome foods contain various substances, like minerals and vitamins, that fortify your immune defences. Here are some of the best immune boosting vitamins and the foods they are present in:
Vitamin B6 helps to support the immune system’s biochemical reactions. Foods that are rich in this vitamin include cold water fish, like tuna and salmon, and poultry. In addition, Vitamin B6 is present in chickpeas (which is used to make hummus) and green vegetables.
Vitamin C might help to reduce the severity of infections, or prevent them altogether. The most well known source of this vitamin is citrus fruits, however other sources include kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, bell peppers, papaya and strawberries. Interestingly, due to the number of foods that contain Vitamin C, many people might not have to take a supplement – unless advised to by their physician. Always seek medical advice before consuming a Vitamin C supplement.
As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin E assists the body when fighting infections. This vitamin is involved in almost 200 biochemical reactions inside the body, and greatly affects how the immune system operates. Foods with high Vitamin E content include seeds, spinach and nuts.
Often called the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D is a potent and vital nutrient for strengthening the immune system. Not a huge number of foods contain this vitamin, but examples of the ones that do are mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna. Also, cereals, milk and orange juice are often fortified with Vitamin D. Generally speaking, it is wise to consume vitamins from the food you eat, however Vitamin D might be best taken as a supplement. Consult your physician to discuss whether you would benefit from this.
When you are shopping for food at the supermarket or greengrocer, it is best to choose vegetables and fruit with a range of different colors. Colorful fruit contains more vitamins, so shopping in this way will make your meals look more appetizing, and provide a decent amount of healthy nutrients. Also, it is vital to strengthen your immune system over time, by observing sensible eating habits. For example, don’t assume that eating three grapefruits for breakfast will protect you from catching the flu that day.
