Boost Your Immunity With Food [Not an Ebola Cure]

The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa is top news right now, and DROP IT is a lot about healthy living; healthy living also entails keeping our immunity up and staying safe. With this in mind I asked myself if there were foods that could help boost a person’s immunity, and boy was I happy about what I found. [Not that any of the foods I’m presenting here can help prevent or treat the ebola virus…this is not another salt hoax].

The first question I asked and scrounged for an answer to is ‘why is my immune system so important?’ The simple answer I found was that our/my immunity is our/my key to good health. And good or healthy immunity helps combat a poor diet (possibly due to serial dieting?), pollution, aging, stress, insufficient rest, allergens, hereditary challenges etc.  Kindda makes a case for forging habits that support a healthy immune system, doesn’t it?

So what foods can help boost our/your immune system? Here we go:

Naturally Ginger: I read somewhere that ginger can help prevent and treat the flu; and is a helpful remedy for stomachaches, nausea and headaches. I came across an article recently that said that the anti-inflammatory compounds in ginger (some fancy chemical names) stimulate blood circulation and opens sinuses – which means oxygen gaining access to our tissues to help remove toxins and viruses.

I did a blog post on Ginger some months ago, you can see it here http://dropit4life.blogspot.com/2014/02/ginger-goldyum.html (there are also some really lovely ginger recipes there as well… give these a try and let me know how they turn out).

Enduring Hot Peppers: Otherwise known as cayenne or habanero, scotch bonnet or atarodo and is the really hot pepper containing capsicum. Again this helps fight colds and flus mainly because of it high Vit C content as it increases the production of white blood cells which trigger a cleansing of cells and tissues of toxins. In addition to its weight loss (metabolism boosting) properties (see more of this here: http://dropit4life.blogspot.com/2013/09/red-hot-chilli-peppers.html) your hot peppers help build healthy mucus membrane tissue that defends against viruses and bacteria and finally this spicy condiment actually raises your body’s temperature making you sweat and increasing the activity of the immune system.

I have to confess though, as much as I know about and appreciate the benefits of hot pepper – I really cannot get a hang of this frankly uncomfortable condiment. Personally, hot peppers are quite simply too hot for Liz♪♪♪♪♪.

 

Speaking Mushrooms: My mom really does not like mushrooms – I’ll see if I can change her mind when I tell her that mushrooms actually increase the production and activity of our white blood cells. Next time you have an infection (ear, throat etc) try some fresh mushroom soup (I doubt if tinned mushrooms work – not sure) a few times a day– I’m sure you will find an adaptable recipe on http://allrecipes.com/

Green Tea is also jammed packed with antioxidants which can also contribute to your general wellbeing and kick the stuffing (smile) out of the common cold.

Other immunity boosters include: Onions, citrus fruits, kale, watermelon and garlic. I am sure there are loads more and I will count on you to suggest some in your comments.

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