6 Healthy Foods That Fight Infection. If you think of your body as a temple, then your immune system would be its walls. Just like any wall, it needs to be maintained in order to keep out invaders (bacteria, pathogens, viruses).
If you don’t take care of your immune system, your body will be vulnerable to attack and could potentially crumble under the pressure. You can take steps to care for your immune system and keep it strong.
Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly will all help to keep your immune system healthy. You can also take supplements or use natural remedies to give your immune system a boost.
6 Healthy Foods That Fight Infection
1. Foods That Contain Zinc
There are plenty of foods that can help you meet your daily zinc requirements, which is important for boosting your immune system.
For example, zinc is crucial for the proper functioning of some immune cells, like white blood cells. If you’re unable to eat meat for dietary reasons, try legumes like lentils and chickpeas, or pumpkin seeds. Remember that your body doesn’t store zinc, so it’s important to eat plenty of zinc-rich foods every day.
2. Honey
Did you know that honey isn’t just delicious – it’s also great for fighting infection? That’s because honey is a natural anti-microbial remedy, which means that it fights off microbes.
The active enzymes in honey release hydrogen peroxide, which is well known for eliminating germs. So, try sweetening your tea with honey next time – it’s good for you and it tastes great too!
3. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in probiotics, which are the good bacteria that keep your gut healthy. Probiotics are important for maintaining a strong immune system, as a large portion of the immune system is located in the digestive tract.
By consuming yogurt, you help your body produce antibodies that target and destroy pathogens. However, it’s important to buy yogurt that is labeled as containing live and active cultures of bacteria. Otherwise, the yogurt will not be effective in fighting infection.
4. Garlic
Yes, garlic might not be the best thing for your breath… But it’s definitely worth considering for its immunity-boosting properties. Garlic is packed with sulfuric compounds, including allicin, which is released when it’s crushed or chewed.
Allicin is widely known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. The traditional way of fighting infection with garlic is eating it on an empty stomach, but adding it to your dishes is also beneficial.
5. Citrus Fruits
We all know that citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is an excellent compound for fighting infection. This is due to its antioxidant properties, which help protect cells from damage. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system by fending off free radicals that can cause illness.
So, if you’re looking for a natural way to help your body fight infection, eating citrus fruits is a great option. If you’re not a fan of sour tastes, you can also get your vitamin C fix from other foods like kale, cauliflower or red peppers.
6. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate that contains 70% cocoa and above is a great source of magnesium, which is why it’s considered to be one of the foods that fight infection.
Magnesium helps the immune cells to function more efficiently; more specifically, it helps white blood cells bind to pathogens so that they could be removed.
Also, magnesium helps to maintain antibodies intact. But, remember, no matter how you look at it, dark chocolate is still candy, so please consume in moderation!
We Should All Eat More Foods That Fight Infection!
It’s more important than ever to try and boost our immune systems, and one of the best ways to do that is by eating healthy foods that fight infection. Different foods have different effects on our health, most of them being beneficial to some degree.
To make sure your immune system is getting everything it needs, try to eat a variety of foods from all the food groups.
Don’t just focus on the six mentioned here (although they are known to be extremely beneficial). This way, you will get enough vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to maintain your good health.