Food is often underestimated as a source of medicine, but nature has provided us with a wealth of immune-boosting foods. Use food as your pharmacy and you can heal all manner of ails. It has been proven that by eating fresh, organic, nutrient-rich foods, we can maintain an optimum level of health. We can also treat current illnesses and ailments by eating the right foods packed with nutrients our bodies are lacking.
Best Immune-Boosting Foods For Your Health
Nature knows best. Here’s a sample of five of the best immune-boosting foods that you can eat when you’re feeling under the weather:
1. Garlic
Garlic is one of the most powerful healing foods as it contains both antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is home to a vital compound called allicin, which is the main party responsible for it’s healing properties. Use garlic as a preventative measure or a treatment. It has been trusted for centuries as a cure-all. Add garlic to your meals to treat the following infections:
- Throat infections
- Respiratory problems and disorders in the upper respiratory tract. Garlic is especially good at preventing these too
- Eat it fresh to harness the capacity to treat food poisoning. It does this by destroying bacteria such as salmonella and e-coli
- Garlic is also useful as an anti-fungal for the treatment of ringworm and athletes foot
2. Mushrooms
Mushrooms have also been used for centuries as a treatment for various illnesses. Did you know that mushies absorb the environment they are grown in? So it’s best to eat organic mushrooms or those that have been grown in favourable conditions. Mushrooms are naturally high in antibiotics, in fact, many of our prescribed antibiotics have extracts taken directly from mushrooms.
Shitake mushrooms are one of the best sources of disease-fighting abilities, as are reishi and maitake. They can help you out in the following ways:
- Increase your white blood cell count, which enhances your overall state of health
- Balance the acidity in your digestive tract to treat gallstones and ulcers
- Eating mushies also increases the presence of cytokines, which are natural immune boosters
3. Ginger
Good old ginger is a stalwart when it comes to warming up your body and flushing out toxins. Inherent chemicals found in ginger attack rhinoviruses, which are a common source for many colds and flu-like illnesses. Try fresh ginger in a juice or tea to get the full benefits:
- It’s great for healing sore throats
- Ginger helps reduce coughing
- It reduces fevers, even though consuming it makes you feel warm
- Ginger also helps sedate you so that you can get a good night’s rest when you’re sick
4. Citrus
We all know that citrus – particularly oranges – are really high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the best tools to ward off illnesses. Dose up with it to regain optimum health after being ill. Citrus fruits include varieties such as oranges, lemons, limes, naartjies, clementines, grapefruits, and more. Citrus fruit can help make you feel better in the following ways:
- Citrus will help boost your immune system when you’re suffering from colds and flu
- It plays a prominent part in reducing the risk of contracting cancers in the stomach, larynx, and the mouth. It does this by inhibiting the growth of tumours – that’s pretty intensive immune-boosting efficiency
- Citrus fruits have been shown to reduce your chances of stroke when eaten regularly
5. Berries
There’s so much healing power packed into the tiny, little berries that we know so well, from blueberries to raspberries and blackberries, all of them have inherent healing properties. Goji berries are incredibly effective in boosting our state of health, but they’re classified as a superfood, so we’ll cover them in another separate article. As for blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, they’re all high in antioxidants. Berries have disease prevention qualities, which can prevent certain cancers.
- Prevent urinary tract infections with blueberries. Thby stopping bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract
- Blackberry roots are effective in treating diarrhea and digestive disorders
- Blackberries can be used to treat sore throats and mouth ulcers, while also being a great treatment for inflamed gums
- Raspberries also reduce the severity of inflammation in the body, great for when you’re feeling congested
Mother Earth made you a medicine cabinet full of immune-boosting foods. Try and let nature do her job by eating raw, fresh foods to treat your ailments. Sickness will pass as quickly as it does when taking over-the-counter medication. The advantage is that you haven’t filled your body with chemicals and unnatural ingredients.
Photo by Dominik Martin, Bruna Branco, Waldemar Brandt, Cecilia Par, and Davor Nisevic on Unsplash
