Boost Your Immune system

Your immune system is perhaps your most valuable asset, and yet, how many of us think about it on a daily basis? Meanwhile, your immune system is silently hard at work in the background of your day, protecting you against viruses and bacteria with which you have unknowingly come into contact.

Eating healthy can boost your immune system. Nutritious foods you consume will put the essential vitamins and minerals into your body to help your immune system fight off viruses and diseases. A few of the foods recommended to help boost your immune system are orange vegetables (sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, squash), lean beef that is low in fat (in moderate proportions), mushrooms (especially shiitake and maitake), yogurt and tea.

Orange vegetables contain the beta-carotene that your body uses to manufacture Vitamin A, an important resource for your skin. Remember, your skin is the first line of defense against fighting off bacteria and viruses. This is why you hear the advice to wash your hands often, especially in cold and flu season. Your hands come into contact the most with a multitude of objects and substances that are most likely carrying bacteria of some sort. By washing your hands often, you lessen the chances of that bacteria getting into your system.

Beef is a source of zinc, a known fighter of infections. Zinc helps your body build white blood cells, and these are the types of cells that boost your immune system the most as they struggle to fight off infections and illnesses. If you do not wish to include beef in your diet, you can also find zinc in pork and poultry products, as well as milk and yogurt. Vegans may want to take a zinc supplement.

Mushrooms also help in developing white blood cells. Shiitake and maitake mushrooms are the two best types of mushrooms to help boost your immune system in its fight against foreign bacteria and germs that try to attack your body. Shiitake and maitake mushroom supplements in capsule form are also available.

For years, tea has been known as a very good source of polyphenols, which act as the antioxidants that defend your body's cells against those damaging free radicals. Tea is believed to consist of more antioxidants than fruit or vegetables, per serving.

If you do become ill and are prescribed antibiotics, you are faced with a "Catch 22." Antibiotics will kill the bacteria that are causing your illness, but they will also kill the good bacteria in your body. Yes, that’s right – there are good bacteria in your body, too. Eating yogurt can help with that situation because yogurt contains good bacteria. This is why it is especially important to eat yogurt while you are taking an antibiotic. Good bacteria are needed in your stomach because they help break down foods you eat so that they can be digested, allowing the nutrients to moved around in your system where they are needed.

You can also boost your immune system by adding vitamin supplements to your diet, such as zinc and Vitamin A; however, the best way to boost your immune system is to eat healthy and nutritious foods in your daily meals and make sure you get plenty of rest.

How You And Your Family Can Follow 5 Simple Steps To Naturally Strengthen Your Immune System And Help Prevent The Flu And Colds