Winter comes with a lot of things. Some we enjoy, like the holidays and beautiful, fresh snow. Other things are less pleasant, like shoveling snow and, of course, cold and flu season.
When you’re trying to determine whether you have the flu or a cold, you might be wondering how you can prevent yourself from getting sick altogether. Apart from staying away from sick people and washing your hands, another great way to stay healthy is through food. Read on to learn all about foods that boost your immune system!
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1. Citrus
There are a number of ways to prevent the flu, but none compare to the power of citrus.
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and tangerines are packed with vitamin C, a powerful immune system booster. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that boosts the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and fights free radicals. People who get enough vitamin C tend to have a shortened duration of infections and less severe symptoms.
Most adults need around 100 mg of vitamin C a day, and citrus fruits are a delicious way to meet your nutritional needs.
2. Garlic
Garlic is a delicious addition to any meal, but did you know that it can help keep you healthy, too?
Alliin is a compound commonly found in garlic that turns into allicin when garlic is crushed or chewed. It’s this compound that makes garlic a powerful food for boosting your immune system. Allicin makes your white blood cells more powerful and ready to fight against viruses.
Like vitamin C, you should get plenty of it in your diet to prevent you from getting sick with a cold or flu.
3. Ginger
If you’re already sick, then you might be looking for something to ease your symptoms. Ginger is a powerful food that will do just that!
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory food that can help you with things like sore throats and nausea. In addition, research has shown that ginger helps prevent viruses from attaching to upper respiratory tracts.
It has also shown promise at lowering cholesterol and reducing pain in chronic pain sufferers.
4. Green Tea
Green tea is not just a tasty beverage that warms you up in the winter.
Green tea is packed with the compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is an antioxidant that has been demonstrated to bulk up your immune system.
If green tea isn’t your thing, you can get similar benefits from black tea, but it’s not as potent. Black tea also has ECGC, but in smaller amounts due to the fermentation process.
Loved These Foods That Boost Your Immune System?
You can’t always prevent getting sick during the winter, but you can be vigilant and eat a variety of foods that boost your immune system. Adding these foods to your diet will prime your body’s defenses against viruses and make you feel better overall. It’s time to add these foods and more to your shopping cart!
Are you looking for more great ways to improve your health? You’re in the right place! Check out the rest of our blog for more awesome content that’ll have you looking and feeling your best.
