Amazing Foods good for Immune System

In order to fight lowered resistance, we resort to foods good for immune system because they will strengthen the immunity.

The purposes of these foods are to help the immune system get back to functionality so as to identify all manner of microorganisms and various foreign bodies or substances that are dangerous and then carry out the destruction of these microorganisms, foreign cells or substances.

Some of these substances, foreign cells or microorganisms include:

1. Chemical products
2. Living cells
3. Dust
4. Body’s own cells that must have deteriorated due to genetic mutation which could lead to cancer if left to develop.

Therefore, foods good for immune system contribute in several ways to the proper working of this complex defense mechanism.

In essence, weak or weakened immune system is seen as lowered resistance and there are contributors to a weakened immune system.

SEE ALSO: Foods that cause Cataracts

Factors aggravate weak immunity

Widely, these vary and in some situations, known. The most common of them all include:

1. Stress
2. Malnourishment or under nutrition
3. Infectious diseases
4. Chemotherapy

Stress which may be psychological or physical, chemotherapy (medications against cancer), lack of any essential nutrient such as the vitamins, trace elements and also infectious diseases are some of the contributors that can reduce the body’s immune response.

Other factors remain various congenital or hereditary disorders and AIDS (deficiency of the immune system caused by viral attack on the defense mechanisms of the body).

Manifestations and Symptoms

The manifestations of a weakened Immune system include:

1. Viral infections
2. Cancer

List of foods good for Immune System

These foods are the foods that are rich in antioxidants, proteins, trace elements, vitamins and minerals. They are:

1. Yogurt
2. Citrus fruits
3. Oils
4. Propolis
5. Acerola
6. Garlic
7. Kiwi
8. Tomato
9. Alfalfa

Others are substances or nutrients which include

1. Antioxidants
2. Proteins
3. Trace elements

Yogurt

Biotic yogurt containing live bacterial cultures help protect the intestinal mucosa and also foster the increase in resistance to infection.

Another benefit of yogurt as one of the foods good for immune system is that they strengthen the body’s immune response.

 

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are highly rich in vitamin C and flavonoid phytochemicals which foster the increase and the defense capacity of the white blood cells.

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Oils

Linoleic acid is found in seed oils and it is necessary for the formation of antibodies. Seed oils help supply vitamin E which strengthens the body’s immune system.

Propolis

This is an antibiotic substance which is produced by bees and it helps to reinforce the body’s immune response to infections.

Acerola

The most vitamin C rich fresh fruit is the American acerola which holds up to 50 times more than other citrus fruit like lemon. Another species azarole, of the Mediterranean variety is also rich in vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps put back the immune system by increasing the capabilities of the defensive white blood cells. As one of the foods good for immune system, they also help to improve production of interferon (an antiviral protein).

Garlic

 

There is a detailed post I made about garlic, you may get it here.

In essence, garlic as of the ingredients which can be used while making foods good for immune system is a natural antibiotic that helps stimulate the immune response.

Kiwi

They have high vitamin C and trace elements content. Therefore, as one of the foods good for immune system, they help stimulate the body’s disease-resistance mechanisms. Read more about kiwi here.

 

Tomato

When you talk about fruits and vegetables, we will not forget to mention how awesome this food is. In a post I made about tomato, I made mention of how it is used to fight prostate cancer. READ HERE

Here, as one of the foods good for immune system, tomatoes are highly rich in antioxidants carotenoids, that is, provitamin A; and minerals that help build and foster the body’s immune system.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa sprouts are wonderful, read here. They are quite abundant in trace elements and minerals that stimulate the synthesis of antibodies.

Do not forget to get more information regarding alfalfa.

Nutrients found in foods good for Immune system

Antioxidants

Foods good for immune system should be good sources of antioxidants because the body needs or requires them to neutralize the free radicals or foreign bodies produced as a result of infections, pollution, stress and even the body’s own metabolic processes.

The foreign cells or free radicals reduce the resistance capacity of the body. Provitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, and also flavonoids are some of the powerful antioxidants.

The only good sources of antioxidants are plant-based foods. Antioxidants are essential to the proper working of the immune system.

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Proteins

It is worthy to note that the antibodies that the body manufactures to fight microorganisms and foreign bodies are all formed of proteins.

Diet poor in proteins weaken the immune system. Only animal based protein is capable of strengthening the immune system.

However, when combined properly with vegetable proteins will help provide the amino acid which is required by the body to synthesize antibodies and other proteins.

Trace elements

Foods good for immune system ought to contain trace elements in abundance. These elements: zinc, copper, selenium and others are quite essential to stimulate and activate the enzymes that synthesize antibodies.

Sesame, molasses and wheat germ are good sources of trace elements.

In conclusion, it is quite important to shun foods or substances that reduce the body’s immune response. Therefore, the intake of these substances should be reduced or eliminated. They include:

1. Shellfish
2. Total fat
3. White sugar
4. Coffee
5. Alcoholic beverages

According to Very Well Health, it is better to obtain nutrients needed for boosting the immune system other than taking supplements.

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