Sick girl in bed

How to Boost your Body’s Natural Defense System with Food? 17 Foods that Keep your Immunity in Check.

( 10 MINUTE READ )
Are you on the look-out for ways to keep your body healthy and strong? Are you aware that the food you eat can significantly impact your immune system’s ability to fight off incoming threats from bacteria, viruses, fungi and other illnesses? Many foods have powerful healing benefits that can help boost your natural defense system. In this blog post we will thoroughly discuss how certain foods can act as protective agents against disease and how small dietary adjustments really do make a difference when it comes to keeping yourself safe. So read on to discover which foods are beneficial in nourishing our bodies so they stay fighting fit!

Why Food Is Your Immune System’s Ultimate Weapon

With the battle against germs and viruses taking place, there is no better weapon than your immune system—and the fuel it runs on: food. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can use foods to fortify your body in the fight against unwanted bugs—from colds and flu to more serious pathogens. Through understanding which foods are most beneficial for keeping your immune system strong, you can give yourself an edge over winding up with unwelcome infections! So let’s explore the science behind how food best empower your immune system.

Drink Enough Water

Girl drinking water from bottle
Staying hydrated is a key element when it comes to boosting your overall health - especially during cold season! Our bodies require water to function properly so be sure to drink at least 8 glasses per day (or 2 liters). Water helps flush out toxins from our systems while keeping us hydrated at a cellular level which allows white blood cells (our body's main defense system) to move freely throughout the body carrying out their job efficiently when fighting off infections or illnesses.

Balance Your Diet

Eating a balanced diet that is full of nutrient-rich foods, is the best way to ensure your immune system remains strong and healthy. This means making sure to include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables each day, as well as protein sources like fish and beans. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains should also be included for sustained energy throughout the day. Additionally, getting enough healthy fats in your diet from sources such as nuts and seeds is important.

Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods are loaded with added sugars, fats, salts, preservatives, and artificial ingredients that can weaken the immune system. Instead of consuming these types of unhealthy foods opt for those that are naturally high in essential nutrients like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts/seeds or whole grains which will aid in providing protection against disease-causing agents by boosting immunity levels in the body.

Get Some Sunshine

Woman looking outside the window thinking
Despite the common truth that sunrays are cancerogenic, short exposure can be very beneficial to our bodies. Spend 15 minutes under the sun to embrace its warm glow and bask in its life-giving rays, because nothing can beat the natural Vitamin D your body gets from sunshine. Sun exposure is essential for overall well-being; it helps boost immunity and strengthens the body’s natural defense system. It's not just great for vitamin D either - the light cycle of the sun has a powerful effect on the circadian clock, sleep, and alertness while breathing in fresh air can help to reduce airborne illness and infection. That combined will give you an unbeatable natural health defense. So don't close yourself all day in the house - get out there and give yourself an invigorating dose of sunshine!

Eat Antioxidant Rich Diet

A wide variety of vegetables and fruits are rich sources of antioxidants that help protect against oxidative damage seriously caused by free radicals in the body. These compounds are thought to be important for maintaining a healthy balance between normal cell growth and destruction, especially when it comes to preventing cancerous cells from forming within the body’s tissues. Some of the most popular antioxidants include:
Beta-carotene found in carrots.
Lutein found in dark green leafy vegetables.
Lycopene found in tomatoes.
Anthocyanins found in blueberries.
Catechins found in tea.
Resveratrol found in red grapes or wine.
Quercetin found in apples.
Ellagic acid found in strawberries and raspberries.

Include Probiotics

Probiotics yogurt in spoon
Probiotic bacteria are live microorganisms that can provide numerous health benefits when consumed regularly through fermented foods. Reap the benefits of probiotics by incorporating fermented foods into your diet like such as yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and tempeh etc. which all contain beneficial bacteria that can help balance out 'bad' bacteria in the gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms living inside our gastrointestinal tract). Studies have shown that having a balanced gut microbiome helps to keep our immune systems strong by preventing pathogenic cells from entering our bodies through our digestive tract lining. These beneficial bacteria have been also linked with improved digestion, better absorption of nutrients from food intake, as well as helping reduce side effects from antibiotics used for treatment purposes among others. Certain probiotic strains have also been shown to lower cholesterol levels, improve mental health outcomes such as reducing anxiety levels as well as providing protection against certain infections such as urinary tract infections caused by harmful bacteria like E coli.  

Make Fiber Your Friend

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate present only foods derived from plants including fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds etc., which humans cannot digest but still provides various health benefits including improving gut microbiome health, stabilizing blood sugar levels & lowering cholesterol levels plus more importantly having positive effects on your immune system. It does this mainly by feeding beneficial bacteria living inside us, so they’re better able to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which enhance intestinal barrier function, thus limiting passage through harmful microbes into our bloodstream, where they cause illnesses. Additionally, fiber promotes the production of IgA antibody – a key component responsible for protecting us against bacterial & viral infections while slowing down chronic inflammatory processes commonly seen in autoimmune diseases such Lupus & Rheumatoid arthritis.

Enjoy Healthy Fats

Sliced fresh avocados
Healthy fats such as those derived from avocados, nuts, seeds and fish contain fatty acids that are essential for cell membrane formation but also necessary components for specialized immune cells called phagocytes that travel throughout our bodies looking for infectious agents they can engulf or “eat up” before they do too much damage on their own . Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with reduced inflammation due their ability to regulate how our bodies respond during tissue repair after injury. Other research suggests that eating monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) like those derived from olives may possibly increase number of lymphocytes - specialized white blood cells critical for fighting off viral infections.  

Foods That Are Your Immune System's Best Friend

In the war against disease and sickness, having a strong immune system is one of your best defenses. Eating the right foods can help to keep your immunity high and ready to battle any illness or ailment that might come your way. As such, it’s important to know which meals are essential in giving you an advantageous head start in this life-long fight for health! We will explore the food items that do just that: strengthen your immune system from within. So get ready—we’re about to fill up our plates with nutritious ingredients and reap the many benefits of boosting our immunity organically!

Cruciferous Vegetables

Broccoli being cut on wooden board
Nutrition is essential to staying healthy, and there’s no better way to protect your body’s natural defense system than with cruciferous vegetables! Whether you’re trying to ward off sickness or prevent a cold or flu, adding nutrition-rich cauliflower, cabbage, and other vegetables e belonging to the Brassica family can give your body an extra boost of nutrition. These veggies are easy to incorporate into meals and snacks - why not try roasting them for added flavor. Filled with nutrition that helps keep your immune system strong, adding a serving of cruciferous veg is sure to contribute to your body’s health—who knew fighting off sickness could taste so good?

Onions

Red onions in a basket
Onions—they’re much more than a bitter taste supplementing your daily recipes. Studies have actually found that incorporating onions into your diet can bolster your body’s natural defense system and fight the things that attempt to take it down. For those with weak immune systems, this makes onions a powerful ally against infection and everyday stressors on your body. Go ahead, strong-arm the cold you caught last week with some onion-infused soup!

Leafy Greens

Fresh bokchoy on marble table
Got weak immune system? Leafy greens are here to save the day! Adding a green leafy veggie to your diet is one of the best ways to bolster your body's natural defense system. The leafy green heroes - kale, spinach, bok choy and more - battle inflammation, free radicals and even help fight infections! So next time you hit the grocery aisle in search of immunity-boosting food, stock up on some veggie powerhouses - because super immunity starts with greens! The greener - the better!

Berries

Raspberries in a pot
Berries are superfoods that provide a quick boost for your body's natural defense system. Not only are they loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, berries are one of the best foods you can incorporate into your diet because of their disease-fighting benefits. In addition to giving your immune system an extra boost, eating plenty of these small wonders can help keep you healthy in the long run. So why not add a little superberry power to your daily routine for maximum protection?

Pomegranate

Fresh pomegranate sliced in half
Pomegranate might just be what you need to shield yourself from the cold winter months. Everyone is susceptible to illnesses when temperature drops, yet taking a few nutrition-infused steps can help your body’s natural defense system stay strong. One of those nutrition secrets is pomegranate, offering an abundance of vitamins and antioxidants that will help protect your weaker immune system from germs and viruses. Don't let the cold weather get in the way of fun activities - make sure to add some pomegranate into your diet and keep yourself healthy!

Amla Berry

Amla berries amlaberry hanging on tree
Amla berry is the powerhouse for health, immunity and protection. It has some amazing natural defense benefits that make it a super fruit like no other! With eight times more Vitamin C than an orange and double the antioxidant power of acai berry, this incredible berry can help defend your body from environmental toxins and everyday stress. On top of all that, amla berry contains around 17 times the amount of antioxidants compared to a pomegranate! So if you want to give your body's natural defense system a boost, then there’s nothing better than adding amla berry to your diet. Enjoy the sweet flavor and amazing health benefits of this tiny yet powerful super food today! You can get powdered amla in specialized shops or order it online.

Oregano

Crushed oregano in a wooden spoon
No one enjoys feeling under the weather, but the nutrition power of oregano can help boost your body's natural defense system and get you back on track. When you're feeling a cold or flu coming on, adding oregano to your diet has been proven to increase immunity, helping you ward off bothersome bugs. Its versatility as an herb also adds nutrition and flavor to any dish. Get creative with oregano in your meal plan - it's an easy way to give your body that extra shot of nutrition so it can fight off whatever might come its way!

Ginger

Fresh ginger root
When sick days affect our plans and leave us feeling miserable, the natural answer is to look for a cure. And what if that miracle remedy was already in your kitchen? Ginger, a superfood and anti-inflammatory, can help boost your body’s natural defense system and protect you from colds and flu. With its slightly spicy flavor profile, it does more than just delight your taste buds; sipping on ginger tea or adding more of this amazing root to your meals keeps you one step ahead of being sick. So the next time the sniffles try to slow you down, add some extra ginger to your day!

Turmeric / Curcuma

Curcuma powder in silver spoon
Turmeric is known as the go-to superfood for warding off sick days. This spice can boost your body's natural defense system, keeping you healthy when colds and flus are abound. Its anti-inflammatory properties are renowned for helping keep those seasonal illnesses at bay – no matter how hard they try to sneak in. With turmeric on your side, you don't have to worry about missing out on life due to bouts of sickness; instead, make sure that turmeric is a part of your daily routine and your immune system will thank you!

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast powder
The anti-inflammatory properties of nutritional yeast can be just the thing for your body's natural defense system. Whether you're looking to fight infections and viruses, or shore up a weak immune system, this nifty natural yeast has got you covered! It's a great way to give your body the protection it needs without any nasty side effects. So give this cheesy nutritional yeast a try today – sprinkle it on popcorn, add to soups and salads.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon curls
Nothing spices up a dish better than just a dash of cinnamon! This little powerhouse of taste has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties, but did you know it can also help boost your body's natural defense system? The anti-oxidants present in cinnamon aid the body in fighting infections and strengthening a weak immune system. One way to reap the benefits of this miracle spice is to add it to your daily cooking or tea. So why not start sprinkling some cinnamon today and let it work its anti-inflammation goodness with each tasty bite!

Echinacea Tea

Pink echinacea flower
If you’re looking for a delicious way to give your body the extra support it needs to stand up to everyday stressors, Echinacea tea could be just what you need. This tea has been used for ages as an all-natural way to boost one’s natural immunity system. Not only does it boast a beautiful and mild flavor, but its active ingredient — Echinacea — works hard for your body as an antioxidant, helping fight off colds and other illnesses. Whether you choose to sip on this delightful beverage in the morning, or throughout the day as a pick-me-up and immune booster, replacing sugary drinks with Echinacea tea is always a wise idea!

Mushrooms

Mushrooms and champignons
Mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular as nutrition boosters due to their unique set of natural benefits. This is especially true in terms of strengthening the body’s defense system against cold and flu viruses. For example, mushrooms are known to increase antioxidants in the digestive tract, allowing them to fight the onset of sickness and even boost energy levels during times of illness or health. Additionally, mushrooms are capable of improving nutrition uptake, which can be especially helpful for those with weaker immune systems or who are suffering from chronic illnesses. In sum, nutrition-rich mushrooms can provide a natural boost to your body's defenses and help give you an extra and secure layer of protection from the uncertainty of seasonal illnesses.

Honey

Honey poured in jar
Honey has been used as an all-natural remedy for centuries, and its immune-boosting properties make it the perfect addition to any health regimen. Not only is this champion of sweetness full of antioxidants and flavonoids, but the enzymes in honey also boost natural gut bacteria so your body is better able to ward off toxins and germs. Letting a spoonful of honey make a home in your daily routine will give you maximum protection against harmful pathogens, while still tasting heavenly. So go ahead and embrace the deliciousness that is honey — it might just be your best line of defense! Just remember that honey should not be heated over 40 degrees Celsius in order to preserve its nutrients.

Garlic

Peeled and whole garlic
Garlic should be placed at the top of your nutrition list if you're looking to boost your body's natural defense system. Not only is garlic a delicious addition to many recipes, it's also incredibly effective in warding off sickness and providing protection against diseases. Even those with weak immune systems can benefit from adding garlic to their diets—and all it takes is a few cloves here and there to make a major difference! We can all use a little extra nutrition now and then—for our health, for our taste buds, and for the extra boost that garlic provides.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds in bowl
Love pumpkin-spiced treats? You'll love this even more - pumpkins are loaded with zinc and vitamin E, nutrients that can help support your body's natural defense system. A single serving of pumpkin seeds provides almost 10 percent of your daily zinc needs as well as significant quantities of vitamin E. Incorporating these nutrient-rich snacks into your diet may help you fight off illnesses and keep your immune system running at its best. Who would've thought that crunchy snack could pack an immunity boosting punch?

Citrus Fruits

Sliced red citrus
Ramp up your immune system and fight off pesky colds and illnesses with something as simple as citrus fruits! Citrus fruits are packed full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that give the body a much-needed boost to its natural defense system. Get creative and add grapefruits to your breakfast, slip some oranges into your salads to give them a zesty kick, or snack on lemon slices. A few more servings of fruit daily can be an easy way to increase your chances of staying healthy throughout the season. Always choose fresh fruits instead of juices for additional fiber!

Last word

The human body’s immune system is an amazing tool for protecting us from illness and disease. It’s important to take steps to keep our natural defense systems strong and healthy. As we all learn more about nutrition each day, it’s clear that eating with intention can be a powerful way to naturally boost your body’s natural defenses – preventing disease rather than simply treating it. So get creative in the kitchen, make nutritious meals that pack a big punch when it comes to nourishing your amazing immune system. Remember—your immunity starts with you! Know what foods work for you and how to handle stressors that challenge your wellness routine.