One thing that everyone learns at a young age is that when you are sick, chick soup and hot tea are essential to beat an illness. And, while no single food is considered a cure-all when you’re sick, having a diet filled with essential vitamins and minerals can help to support and boost your immune system – which can help prevent illnesses and help you bounce back sooner. So here are 4 of the best foods to help prevent illnesses while boosting your immune system this spring season.
Fatty Fish
One of the best things you can do to keep your immune system in good shape is to eat more foods packed with omega-3 fats. Not only can omega-3 fats help prevent head disease and stroke, but they are also used to control other conditions – such as lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid. With fatty fish being a great source of anti-inflammatory fat, if you are trying to boost your immune system using omega-3 fats, consider eating:
- Albacore Tune
- Salmon
- Trout
But it is also important to remember that some fish contains mercury and other contaminants that children or pregnant women shouldn’t eat – check with your doctor before eating fish.
Citrus Fruits
Do you remember, as a kid, being told to drink orange juice when you were sick? This is because, though it is not a cure-all, orange juice is chock-full of Vitamin C – which can prevent or shorten infections. While Vitamin C is found in orange juice, Vitamin C is also found in other citrus fruits – such as:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Grapefruits
So, if you want to incorporate more Vitamin C into your everyday diet, oranges, and orange juice are the only places to get it.
Ginger
Filled with vitamin c, magnesium, and potassium, ginger is a well-known flavoring that everyone uses around the winter holidays – in their baking recipes and to top their teas and lattes. But many need to realize that ginger has been used in eastern medicine for centuries to alleviate inflammation and nausea. So, try a little ginger tea, or add a little ginger to your food and strengthen your immune system this springtime.
Broccoli
Everyone knows the vegetable broccoli, steamed, sautéed, or baked, and most people have probably had an argument with their parents or kids about eating this stalky vegetable. Broccoli is packed full of vitamins A, C, and E and is an excellent fiber source. But, what makes it great for boosting the immune system and the production of glutathione is its sulfur compounds.
