Eat these foods for stronger immunity!

Getting sick is part and parcel of life. As we know now more than ever, germs spread through something as simple as a handshake (hello social distancing!).

Apart from medicine, the only thing that can help your body be rid of colds and flus when you do catch the bug is your immune system. Here are some foods that help boost your immune system to fight off bacteria, stop you from getting sick, and help you recover from illnesses faster.

Greens
Your parents nagging at you about eating your vegetables was for all the right reasons. Greens, especially broccoli and spinach, are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. The nutrients found in spinach are also known to ward off the common cold. It’s best to eat your greens raw or slightly cooked but if the taste doesn’t suit you, have it on the sides with your main meal.

Yoghurt and other dairy products
Yoghurt is an excellent source of probiotics which promote a healthy gut and strong immunity against respiratory infections. The calcium found in yoghurt and other dairy products is also important for treating blood clots, healing wounds, and maintaining blood pressure.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D does wonders including strengthening your bones, fighting off different cancers, heart diseases, depression, weight gain and also strengthens your immunity. In 2018, scientists found evidence suggesting that the vitamin could protect a person against influenza. The best part about Vitamin D is that you can get your daily dose by sitting out in the sun.

In the same year, mushrooms were dubbed as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because of its richness in vitamin D. You can also find vitamin D in egg yolks and cheese.

Blueberries
Apart from tasting good, these little balls of joy contain plenty of antioxidants and vitamins that help fight off diseases. Eat them raw or throw them into a smoothie for maximum health and taste!

Green tea
A common nutrient found in blueberries and green tea are flavonoids, an essential nutrient in helping to ward off and fight the common cold. With its low caffeine content, green tea is an excellent substitute for coffee or tea.

Garlic
Garlic is a popular home remedy for the common cold and can easily be added into your diet because of its richness in flavour. This study showed that patients who consumed garlic often were less likely to get the common cold and also recovered from the common cold faster than patients given a placebo.

Apart from all these foods, getting quality sleep helps build stronger immunity against infectious diseases. When you’re snoozing away, your body releases proteins that are necessary to fight off infections and inflammations. Sleep deprivation reduces the production of these proteins and thus, you’re more likely to get sick.

Photo by Matcha & CO and veeterzy on Unsplash