Nutrition and Your Immune System

With COVID-19 so much in the forefront of everyone’s mind today and the importance of hygiene and social distancing, it’s also important to know how you can boost your immune system to help protect us further from bacteria, germs, viruses and illnesses.

Keeping our immune system healthy is not something we tend to think a lot about but without it functioning properly, we face the very real possibility of getting sick as it can’t protect us from viruses, toxins and other substances that can harm us.

Fortunately, there are some excellent home remedies we can do to strengthen our immune system and allow it to help protect us as it is meant to do.

Home Remedies to Boost Your Immune System

There are a number of factors and even illnesses that may cause us to have a weakened immune system. But we can change some lifestyle habits: improve our diet, exercise, take vitamins and herbs to keep it performing as it should.

What We Eat Can Help

One lifestyle change is to eat a healthier diet. Eating a balanced diet can help us stay well and help boost our immune system. Some foods are:

  • Salmon
  • Oysters
  • Crab
  • Lobster
  • Lean Meat
  • Homemade Chicken or Turkey Bone Broth
  • Tuna
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Dark Chocolate
  • Blueberries
  • Spinach
  • Sweet Potato
  • Citrus Fruits
  • Apricots
  • Strawberries
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Beets
  • Red Cabbage
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Almonds
  • Avocado
  • Dark Leafy Greens
  • Papaya
  • Kiwi
  • Eggs

Try and eat a variety of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try to limit the amount of sugars and processed foods you eat.

Dietary Supplements

There is no one thing that fits all. As a matter of fact, scientist don’t fully know just how well supplements and herbal preparations can help boost the immune system.

But, herbs, vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and amino acids can help provide essential and nonessential nutritional needs that are not consumed in adequate amounts in our diets.

Some of these are:

  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Probiotics
  • Zinc
  • Turmeric
  • Echinacea
  • Elderberry

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is always important and can help boost your immune system health. Water is always the number one choice.

Try to not overdo drinks that can dehydrate you, coffee is a good example. You can drink coffee, just don’t overdo it.

Here is a homemade tea you can easily make that can also help boost your immunity:

Ginger Tea Preparation

  • 4 cups of water
  • 2-inch fresh ginger piece
  • Lemon slice and honey (optional)

Peel and slice the ginger root. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, then add the slices of ginger to boiling water, and reduce heat.

Cover the saucepan, and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Then strain liquid and add lemon and/or honey to taste.

Other teas to drink that can help boost the immune system:

  • Kombucha Tea
  • Green Tea
  • Echinacea Immune Support
  • Elderberry Tea

Besides nutrition and healthy lifestyle changes, follow the CDC guidelines.

As always if you have any questions, check with your doctor especially if you are already on a prescribed regimen to make sure there are no interactions with medications you are already taking.