Nature has blessed us with the best defense system of all time: our immune system.
Yet, amidst this terrifying COVID-19 outbreak, it seems that our defense system could use a little help.
Now, chugging kale juice and munching on garlic cloves will only take you so far. They are not going to automatically protect you from Covid-19 just because you ingest them. Our immune system is cultivated by our diets, habits and genetics; all we can do is try to help it in any way we can.
So, what exactly are the type foods we should actually consume to help boost the immune system?
1.Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene in itself is not an essential nutrient to our body, but the product it becomes is. Think of beta-carotene as the precursor of Vitamin A. The human body takes the beta-carotene consumed and turns it into Vitamin A. Foods that are highly rich in this are sweet potatoes, squash, apricot, and, of course, carrots!
Every science class would remind us that Vitamin A is super important for our eye health and vision, but it also helps us build healthy skin and mucus membrane and strengthen our immune system! All of which are important to keep us strong enough to combat infections and viruses — including the Coronavirus!
So, it is definitely time to load up on that extra helping of carrots!
2.Vitamin C & E
We have all heard of Vitamins C and E, and how good they are for our body. But, what is it, and why is it good for us?
Vitamins C and E both contain antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that remove potentially damaging oxidizing agents. This means that antioxidants can override harmful molecules which are produced within cells and cause tissue damage or disease. In layman’s terms, these vitamins kill the bad things that attack our body.
Examples of foods with these vitamins are papayas, oranges, broccoli and kiwi fruits.
3.Zinc
Zinc is a vital mineral that your body uses in countless ways — necessary for over 300 enzymes activities that aid in metabolism, digestion, nerve function and many other processes.. In fact, zinc is the second-most-abundant trace mineral in your body, and is present in every cell.
Essentially, Zinc is critical for the development and function of immune cells, and fundamental to skin health, DNA synthesis and protein production. What’s more, body growth and development relies on zinc because of its role in cell growth and division.
Zinc, unlike vitamins, cannot be created in our bodies — it has to be consumed. Rich in zinc are food such as meat, shellfish, fish, eggs, mushrooms, kale and many others.
What other immune system boosting foods have we missed out on? Let us know in the comment section below!
Header Image : Tioga Publishing
