Having a healthy immune system is the key to you limiting the amount of colds or flu's you get, helping you fight serious diseases or cancers, helps you fight allergies or even slows down aging.
It is super important to make sure you look after your body from your diet as what you put into your body is what makes your immune system strong. You are the only person that has control of what you eat and drink or what your lifestyle is like. Poor diet, lifestyle and toxic environment including stress all has an effect on your immune system. This is why its not just foods but a holistic approach to your well-being that is important - taking time out for you as well.
Your immune system is mainly in the lymphatic system and bloodstream although other organs such as your skin take a part in it as well. Your body is made up of millions of cells and are bathed in fluids. This is where the lymphatic system takes that fluid, cleans it and puts it back into your bloodstream for circulation. Your lymph nodes, spleen and thymus gland all are apart of the lymphatic system and they produce cells that destroy foreign substances in your body. T-Cells from your thymus directly destroy substances whereas B-cells in your spleen make antibodies to get rid of them.
What you eat is super important as your organs and cells rely on nutrients to keep them working at their best. Poor diet and lifestyle will have an immediate effect on your immune system. Nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Zinc, Selenium, Iron and Protein are essential for the health of your cells in your immune system. Low immunity will stem from stress, smoking, lack of sleep, excess alcohol, food additives, processed foods and sugars, aging, excess weight making you sustainable to flu's, skin problems, allergies, autoimmune diseases such a rheumatoid arthritis. Signs of a low immune system would be food intolerance, gut issues such as Leaky Gut and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, aching joints, muscle weakness and skin issues.
Our skin is our first line of defense in fighting off outside pathogens so foods to help strengthen your skin and using the correct products such as Vitamin C for antioxidant and Vitamin A to rejuvenate your skin are important to your daily routine. Think of ingredients that you would eat and look for those ingredients in plant based skin care products.
Foods such as these listed below help with your gut health. If your good bacteria in your gut is healthy then that is where it will all start.
Probiotic foods: Kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, fermented vegetables, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha tea, kimchi, and miso.
Prebiotic foods: Garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, bananas, and seaweed. However, a more general rule is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains for dietary prebiotics.
Other foods such as omega-3 - healthy fats like salmon, whole grains, fiber - which helps keep the colon clear and prevents toxin buildup, proteins like beans, meat and fish, minerals such as nuts and leafy green vegetables and fruits such as lemons and oranges all help build this support system.
In summary, thinking about what you eat, being in tune with your body and listening to it will help you boost your immunity. Sleep when you need it, take time out when you are feeling overwhelmed, plan your meals so you know you are getting a good balance and go for a gentle walk or exercise to complement your food. It is your choice alternately at the end of the day.
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