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17 Super Foods That Can Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

Winter has crept in and as usual, it is essential always to have knowledge of a strong as well as balanced immune system to stay healthy and avoid any infections.

The weather might frighten you and your children, there will be snow drizzles, rain and snow. However, you can care for yourself and loved ones by including some essential items from the kitchen to your diet to improve your body immunity. Agreed, Mother Nature is always kind and gifts us, humans with food and other essential items for day-to-day life, but there is also the cruel part when you get affected with simple ailments such as cold, fever and cough.

If you have become infected because of the weather and battling cold or a cough, it is time that you take a fair decision not to include junk food such as chips and include raw vegetables and fruits that can make your body healthy.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

Super Foods That Can Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

1. Nuts

The mention of nuts can remind you of chocolate and ice cream flavors but naturally almonds, walnuts and pistachios contain abundance of Vitamin E that is essential for the body to fight bacteria and virus and thus you avoid cold.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

Instead of opting for junk food in the evening at office, opt for a handful of almonds, walnuts or other nuts. Another important benefit, the healthy fats in nuts assist the body in absorbing Vitamin E.

2.Onions

Onion added in meat recipes add to the flavor, but they also contain numerous antioxidants as well as flavonoids which enhance the immune system of the human body. The smell of onion can bring tears in the eyes and the mucous can run down your nose, stimulating the immune system. The magical component is quercetin that can dissolve the mucus in the chest, head and other areas of the body while giving a boost to the immune system.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

Having a half onion can reduce the fever (simple) since it infuses sweat and the strong smell (shall we say pungent) can increase the circulation of blood. The best tip is to consume onions within a few hours of flu or cold infection to boost the immunity and stay healthy. Since onion also belongs to the allium family similar to garlic, it also contains allicin.

3. Seafood

The present generation is health-conscious and almost everybody has information that sea food is composed of healthy omega-3 fatty acids that help in anti-inflammation and provide plenty of proteins to the human body. The major part, these sea foods are an important source of selenium essential for the enhancement of white blood cells in the body. Do you know that people with less amount of selenium can get easily affected by flu?

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The best way to improve immunity in the winter is to have salmon, tuna and shrimp alternate days in a week.

4. Garlic

Every grandmother soup or medicine will contain garlic or its ingredients. The magical medicinal compound allicin acts as the immune stimulating nutrient.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

A report from the BBC in 2007 has suggested that garlic can be used effectively for prevention and elimination of common cold. The joke in the bar is that if you eat garlic, the strong sour breath can prevent the sick people from coming close to you. Bad joke!

Essential To Read: Top 15 Proven Home Remedies For Cold

5. Ginger

Another easily available item from the kitchen, is ginger. The benefits – it can reduce fevers, give a soothing reaction in times of sore throats, and mucus can be removed from the chest.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The medicinal components are gingerols and shogaols, which can give a spicy kick thereby stimulating circulation of blood. In cold, you suffer from fatigue as there is less circulation of blood. When oxygen and essential nutrients in the body is sent to the tissues using blood, the toxins and virus are killed and eliminated.

6. Cayenne Pepper

The black pepper brings a sharp taste to the mouth, but it is because of volatile beneficial oils such as piperine (amine alkaloid) and other monoterpenes such as pinene, limonene, terpinene. The minerals present in this pepper such as potassium is essential for regulation of heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is needed for production of new blood cells and cellular respiration.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The anti-oxidants such as lycopene, zea-xanthin, cryptoxanthin and carotenes assist the body in removing free radicals and prevention from diseases.

7.Yogurt

Yogurt! Yummy is the word you had uttered when you were young, and your children must be having the same idea too. However, as you must have known in recent times, this yummy food is packed with good bacteria that can prevent the body against minor infections and diseases. The beneficial bacteria are known as probiotics and a body rich in these bacteria has been found to have a good number of white blood cells.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

8. Green Tea

One of the preferred drink (shall we suggest beverage) in the world, it is rich in polyphenols and other nutrients that assist in protecting the body against flu or cold.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The steamy effect of drinking tea can give the similar effect of a chicken soup. The compound called as EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate can prevent harmful radicals against cancer cells. The medical compounds are known as catechins.

9. Horseradish

The inclusion of horseradish in the diet can increase your immune system as well as circulation of blood to all parts of the body that are affected by symptoms of cold or flu. It is said that horseradish can eliminate mucus from the lungs by heating the body.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter
Image Courtesy: www.gardeningknowhow.com

Some of the essential components are 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, 2-pentyl isothiocyanate, phenylethyl isothiocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate. These compounds are known for their detoxification and anti-oxidant functions. The Vitamin C content in this ‘root’ can also boost immunity of the human body.

10. Oregano

One of the best herbs that contain abundant anti-oxidants, It contains flavonoids and phenolic acids that act as anti-inflammatory compounds. It contains Vitamin K which can promote growth of strong bones and assist in maintaining bone density.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter
Image Courtesy: pantrygardenherbs.com

The two oils which are famous for their anti microbial properties in oregano are thymol and carvacrol. Another important antioxidant to make the mark is rosmarinic acid. It also contains valuable minerals such as iron, manganese etc.

11. Grapefruit

Known as a combination of two vitamin packed fruits the pomelo as well the orange, this fruit is available all the year around. Kindly check with the doctor as the components can interfere with prescription drugs.

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

Potassium is found in abundance in the body; this mineral is responsible for energy levels. The vitamin B9 or folate necessary for proper functioning of the brain is also present in grapefruit. Vitamin C present in high levels boosts the immune system and makes the human body attain maximum benefit.

12. Red Bell Peppers

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The peppers are considered valuable sources of phytochemicals, vitamin C, beta carotene etc. The important ingredient is capsaicin that can reduce inflammation, pain and break the mucus and clear the sinus parts. Also, it also assists in strengthening the lung tissues.

13.Citrus Fruits

citrus fruits - for immunity on winter

 Fresh citrus fruits refresh your body and your senses with their tangy sweetness. With rich Vitamin C, antioxidants, fibre and nutrients, the citrus fruits help your body inside out. Lemons and limes are good body-detoxifiers. Citrus fruit peels contain incredible amounts of antioxidants that promotes overall skin health. They also contain enzymes that aid in the digestion of heavy/greasy/oily foods. The bio-flavonoids and natural phytonutrients in Grapefruits (red/pink colour) give a good immunity boost. Youcan use finely grated orange peel/tsp. of lemon juice to add rich flavour to your salads, pastries, soups and also in your oatmeal/porridges. Overall, the citrus fruits aids in improving the body’s immunity. 

14.Broccoli

easy available home remedy for promoting immunity

The Broccoli is completely low-calorie, gluten-free, cholesterol-free and has low-sodium levels. Broccoli has rich fibre content and one of the good sources of plant-based calcium and vitamins (A, C, B & K).The broccoli sprouts are found to be even healthier. Broccoli in general is good for health and helps with improving your overall immunity. Broccoli is better for the body when slightly cooked instead of raw.

15.Spinach

easy available home remedies

Spinach is a super food for boosting immunity and improving your health. Antioxidants in spinach protect and help the body cells to function well and they also protect the enzymes that help our body with cellular-rejuvenations. Regular intake of spinach can improve Iron levels in your body which brings good immunity to you. Spinach is loaded with vitamins and nutrients that’ll help maintain a healthy immune system and a healthy gut.While cooking, you make sure that the spinach colour is intact and doesn’t become like a flushed green. Spinach is better when cooked lightly instead of taking them raw.

16.Papaya

easy available home remedy for immunity

Papaya is super fruit loaded with rich Vitamins(C, A, E), Folate and Mineral (Potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium) contents and is a wonderful source of natural-fibre. Papaya helps in maintaining a healthy gut, aids digestion, has the ability to kill intestine worms, relieves constipation which all leads to a more healthy digestive system which adds up to your body’s overall  immunity. Papaya satiates the unhealthy sugar cravings. It’s got good amount of water content. Overall, papaya is a good immunity boosting natural food.

17.Oysters

Enhance Your Immunity In Winter

The abundance of zinc present in oysters can prevent infections of cold and flu. Zinc is one of the essential nutrients that are needed in enzymatic reactions than any other mineral. It improves the function of helper T cells, that can identify foreign antigens and thus alert immune cells to attack and kill harmful pathogens.

Some of the Other Immunity Boosting Foods that are easily available from your kitchen includes Pomegranate, Carrot, Beetroot, Raisins, Prunes, Berries, Carrots and all Anti-0xidant rich berries and Omega 6/3 rich nuts and seeds.

Prevention Tips

  • Keep stress in control and have adequate sleep (at least six hours per day).
  • Lack of physical activity and cold can make irregular patterns in circulation of blood. Ten minutes of exercise is essential.
  • The cold season does not have enough of sunshine, but whenever possible soak, in the sun to get Vitamin D to strengthen the immune system.
  • The most important of all, let any situation come, handle with confidence and always remain happy. Depressed moods and stress can make the body release cortisol and other harmful enzymes resulting in ill health.
  • As far as possible, avoid fried foods, processed baked goods and meats, soft drinks as well as food products with refined sugars or artificial sweeteners. Having too many of these foods can suppress the immune system.
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