Needless to say, what you put in your body is extremely important. Aside from fueling your body every day, important functions–like say, that of your immune system, can be supported through eating healthy foods, living a clean lifestyle, exercising and, if you feel you may need to fill in any gaps, taking certain supplements.
Did you know there are certain foods that may help provide immune support? Checkout the list below, and next time you go to the grocery, make sure these nutrient-packed foods are on your list.
1. Citrus Fruits
Most citrus fruits contain high amounts of vitamin C, which can help support your immune function. There are a wide variety of citrus fruits that are perfect for regular consumption, including lemons, oranges, grapefruit and tangerines. You can easily add these foods to your meals by eating them for breakfast, at snack time and even as a dessert after dinner.
2. Broccoli
Broccoli is filled with immune-supporting minerals and vitamins, which makes it a great addition to your regular diet for immune function support. It’s important to note that certain vitamins and antioxidants are more sensitive to heat than others, and unfortunately broccoli is loaded with some of these heat-sensitive nutrients. While best consumed raw to maximize vitamin and mineral content, if you’re going to cook your broccoli, steaming provides the best chance of the broccoli maintaining the highest amounts of its beneficial nutrients.
3. Garlic
Garlic is high in sulfur making it an excellent immune supporter. Cooking with fresh garlic is an easy and flavorful way to take in this beneficial nutrient, and if you can stomach it, try eating a raw garlic clove for an even more powerful boost.
4. Ginger
Ginger doesn’t just add a little spice to your meal, but it can also offer numerous health benefits since it contains a good source of antioxidants. Kick up the flavor of your next vegetable saute by adding a little ginger, or add a thin piece to hot water to make ginger tea. And here’s a little tip, store your ginger in the freezer and when you are ready to use it, simply grate it into your dish.
5. Yogurt
If you’re looking to add probiotics to your daily diet, a helping of yogurt in the mornings may be able to help you do just that, as yogurt is known for having an extremely rich content of probiotics. Try to avoid flavored yogurt or yogurt drinks, as they tend to contain a large amount of sugar. Unsweetened, unpasteurized yogurt is the best bet if you’re looking to add some support for your immune function.
6. Nuts
Even though nuts are small they are packed with tons of healthy nutrients and antioxidants. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals like E, B6, niacin, folate, zinc, selenium and more. They are also high in fiber and contain healthy fats, and are one of the easiest snacks to grab when you are on the go.
7. Turmeric
Turmeric has been used for centuries as a healing herb in many cultures. It contains compounds called curcuminoids, including curcumin which is where this spice gets it bright orange color from. If you are looking to add some turmeric to your diet, try a curry dish or make a warm cup of golden milk before bed.
8. Elderberry
Elderberry has been used for centuries for a variety of health-related uses, one of them being incredible immune support. Its antioxidant properties and the beneficial immune-supporting nutrients found in elderberries are believed to help support the immune system. This is why we included it in our Total Care Immune Probiotic. If you’re looking for an immune system and gut support in just one capsule daily, the Total Care Immune Probiotic has your name all over it.
The Takeaway: Foods that Support Immune Function are Easier to Consume than You Think
There are so many ways to incorporate immune-supporting foods into your diet, so have fun trying new dishes and drinks that include some of the items mentioned above.
As you can imagine, we’re big fans of Probulin Probiotics and the support they may offer for all–be it for immune function support, like in our Total Care Immune Probiotic, or more for standard gut health support, like in our Probulin Digestive Probiotics. If you are looking to receive broader, we encourage you to check out our full line of probiotic supplements.