Give Your Immunity A Boost

The Government has told everyone to wash their hands, stop touching their faces and stay at home. But what else can you do to give yourself a fighting chance at staying healthy? A solution may just lie in what you eat.

We shouldn’t have to stress the importance of boosting your immune system. While there is currently no evidence that certain foods can protect you from catching coronavirus, it’s still incredibly important to stay as healthy as possible.

Health experts recommend a varied diet with lots of high-fibre foods. Pulses and fermented foods such as kimchi are great too. You don’t have to be a vegetarian, but the more plant-based foods you can consume the better.

Taking care and looking after your immune system will mean your body will be stronger when dealing with any viruses, so why not make a positive change and try incorporating these five foods below into your diet?

1. Citrus fruits

Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections. Good citrus fruits to try out are grapefruits, oranges, lemons and limes. Your body doesn’t produce or store vitamin C, so it’s recommended you consume some daily for continued health.

Here are 24 recipes you can try with citrus fruits.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli is high in vitamins A, C and E, antioxidants and fibre. It’s also high in beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. These vitamins and minerals all work together to help the immune system run smoothly. It’s also an antioxidant! It’s one of the healthiest vegetables out there! In order for it to retain its goodness, try to cook it as little as possible.

Here are 43 recipes that all incorporate broccoli!

3. Garlic

Garlic has a high concentration of sulphur-containing compounds such as allicin, which has antibacterial properties. Garlic is also said to help lower blood pressure and slow down the hardening of arteries. It is also rich in antioxidants and has antiviral properties that may help in reducing the severity of infections.

Garlic can be included in nearly any dish you cook, but if you want something a little more specific, here are 10 of the best garlic recipes.

4. Yoghurt

If you’re shopping for yoghurt, make sure to keep an eye out for the ones that have “live and active cultures” on the label, like Greek yoghurt. These cultures can help stimulate your immune system to help fight diseases. Plain yoghurts are better than flavoured ones as they tend to be full of sugar. Yoghurt is high in vitamin D, which helps regulate the immune system, and is also thought to help boost our body’s natural defences against diseases.

Need some tasty yoghurt recipes? You can find 40 fab recipes here.

5. Spinach

Spinach is the absolute king of superfoods. It has a high content of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, magnesium and iron. All of spinach’s nutrients help boost immune function and provide the body with the necessary ingredients for cell division and DNA repair. Like broccoli, spinach is best when eaten raw or lightly cooked.

Here are 40 of the best spinach recipes.