Superfoods to Boost Your Immune System

When it comes to your immune system, food plays an important role—the immune system is a network of cells, organs, and systems that require essential nutrients to effectively protect the body. Generally, a balanced diet will provide most of the needed nutrients, but for best results, you should try some of these immunity-boosting superfoods.

If absorption is a problem, consider supplementing your diet with a good regimen of prescribed vitamins by Gundry MD products to keep your health at its optimum.

Garlic

The health and medicinal properties of garlic are well-documented and have been used for centuries. With a series of studies, modern science has confirmed that garlic can decrease the risk of getting infections, speed up recovery when you get sick, and also decrease the severity of illnesses like the common cold.

The immune-boosting properties of garlic seem to come from its high concentrations of a sulfur-containing compound called allicin. Allicin, the compound that gives garlic its unique smell and taste, is released when it’s crushed or sliced.

Avocados

It’s widely known that avocados are rich in healthy unsaturated fats. Less known is the fact that these fats can help boost immune function. They do this by increasing the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, and E absorption. Apart from this, avocados contain high levels of several immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin B6, magnesium, and copper.

Apples

Apples are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium, and apples are great for your immune system. They are also rich in pectin, a soluble fiber. Soluble fibers are much known for their ability to improve the health of your gut. Still, one study showed that they could also help reduce inflammation and boost immune function by increasing the production of an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-4.

Ginger

Like garlic, ginger has been recognized for centuries for its medicinal value. It’s commonly used as an effective home remedy against the common cold. This aromatic root spice is loaded with a compound called gingerol, which has anti-inflammatory properties and is the main contributor to its immune-boosting properties.

Apart from this, ginger is rich in other immune-boosting nutrients such as vitamin B6—a standard component of immunity system support supplement and magnesium. The great thing about ginger is that it’s highly versatile and can be used in many ways, including as a tea or as a spice to soups, stews, etc.

Spinach

Popeye, the sailor, was definitely onto something with his cans of spinach. Although gobbling down a can of spinach will have no effect on your muscles nor give you superhuman strength, eating spinach has been shown to have several short and long-term benefits. Those tasty dark leaves are packed with many immunity-boosting compounds such as vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, beta carotene, and several antioxidants.

The consumption of spinach can also improve gut health, contribute to stronger bones, and help you get clearer skin. To get the most out of eating spinach, however, cook it as little as possible because heat can lead to a loss of several of the healthy nutrients it contains.