Foods to eat to boost your immune system

Research has clearly shown that what you eat has become the number one way to boost your immune system. You may be surprised to learn, that there are many foods that can be consumed, on a regular basis, which will offer a powerful long-term boost to the immune system. However, it is crucial to understand, that it is not good enough to simply add these foods to an unhealthy diet, but to replace unhealthy foods with foods such as these. This is because simply adding them to an unhealthy diet will not be sufficient for healing and long-term good health.

The foods that many people consider healthy are really full of unhealthy chemicals for the body. This is because processed foods are filled with chemicals, and preservatives which are detrimental to the immune system. When substances enter the body, which are not recognized, the immune system attacks them and over time becomes drained. The body's ability to stay healthy then becomes compromised. In addition, the heat processing of most foods destroys most of the nutrition that is needed, to support the immune system. It is always important to read food labels when shopping, to make sure they are chemical, and preservative free.

One of the best ways to boost your immune system is to pack your diet full of fruits and vegetables. Nutritional experts stress that adequate quantities of minerals in the body, are essential for a healthy immune system. If you have a deficiencies in minerals such as magnesium, zinc, selenium and iron have been shown to compromise the immune system. A diet high in raw fruits and vegetables will provide sufficient quantities of these nutrients. If you feel that you cannot eat enough, then juicing fresh fruit and vegetable once a day is a quick and easy way to get an adequate supply of these minerals.

There are other foods that possess much of the immune boosting properties. All of the foods listed here, have been shown to have disease fighting properties. Other foods that may be consumed on a regular basis to boost the immune system include:

• Garlic


• Various types of mushrooms


• Salmon


• Herring


• Sardines


• Mackerel


• Walnuts


• Ground flaxseeds


• Sunflower seed


• Sesame seeds


• Oregon grapes


• Green tea


• Bee pollen

It is also helpful when trying to boost your immune system to strengthen the digestive system. This is because a healthy digestive system, allows the body to properly absorb all necessary nutrients that are needed for good health. It also prevents yeasts and unhealthy bacteria from overpopulating in the intestinal tract, which produces toxins leading to diminished health. The large intestine contains friendly bacteria known as flora, which aid in digestion and protect against foreign invaders. The use of antibiotics and consumption of foods containing pesticides can destroy these bacteria, and eventually leads to many serious health conditions. This type of bacteria provides powerful immune system boosters, when properly balanced in the body. Probiotics that are found in certain foods replenish healthy bacteria. One of the best sources of this is yogurt. Yogurt is considered to be a super food, because of its high beneficial bacteria content. Studies have shown that it is able to boost the immune response to disease microbes. While there are many types of yogurt products available it is important to understand that not all are equal. You should avoid fruit flavored yogurts, because of their high sugar content. To take advantage of yogurt's health benefits, you should choose plain yogurt, which contains high levels of bacteria culture. For an extra special treat try freezing yogurt to treat yourself instead of ice cream.