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9 Immunity-Boosting Foods You Need in Your Diet

Ward off sick days by adding these immune system-strengthening foods into your daily diet.
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Most of us take our immune system for granted, even though it's what keeps us from getting sick. Your immune system serves as your body's defense center, fighting infections and illnesses — and, in order for it to function properly, it's our job to fuel it (and the rest of our body) with nutritious food... preferably of the healthy, anti-inflammatory variety.

"Eating a diet high in inflammatory foods, like those made from wheat and conventional dairy, can lead to a weakened immune system and digestive issues," warns Josh Axe, DNM, CNS, DC, founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com. "Plus, a poor diet full of processed and sugary foods, artificial sweeteners and refined carbohydrates is damaging the gut lining, leading to intestinal inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, food intolerances and an overactive immune response."

Sadly, as Dr. Axe points out, the standard American diet is full of these inflammatory, gut-damaging foods. "People simply aren't eating enough of the good stuff that provides the nutrients we need to thrive," he says. "When we take care of our gut by cutting out inflammatory foods, we are boosting the immune system naturally."

Not sure what to munch on to help keep your immune system chugging along? Here are 9 food expert-approved options.

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Citrus fruit
It's true that citric fruits such as oranges are excellent immune system fighters, thanks to the fact that they're rich in vitamin C. In fact, one orange alone — which contains 70 mg of vitamin C — is almost enough to satisfy the daily recommended amount for women (75 mg/day) and men (90 mg/day).

"While vitamin C won't prevent you from getting sick, studies have shown that getting enough vitamin C may shorten the length of a cold by a day. Incorporate a piece of citrus fruit into meals daily," says Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, author of Eating in Color. "Easy to peel mandarin oranges make an easy snack for kids and grown ups."

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Kefir
This fermented dairy product is a combination of milk and what's called starter "grains" — a combination of bacteria and yeasts that interact with the milk, as Dr. Axe explains. It's popular in many countries, mainly because it can be made with any type of milk (from cows, sheep and goats, to rice and coconut). "Kefir contains 10 to 34 types of probiotics, which are essential for gut health and immune function," explains Dr. Axe. While you can drink kefir on its own, he recommends adding it to smoothies or using it as a base in soups and spreads.

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Yogurt
Similarly to kefir, yogurt is a probiotic-rich food, which means it's beneficial for gut health and plays a key role in aiding your immune system. "If your gut is out of whack, it's leaving your body open to cold and flu viruses," says Largeman-Roth. For this reason, she suggests piling your plate with probiotic-rich foods, like yogurt. Even better, add in some antioxidant-rich blueberries, a low-glycemic food that contains less sugar than most berries. Plus, one cup serving provides 200 percent of the daily recommended intake of manganese, a mineral that helps regulate blood sugar, heal the skin and maintain bone health.

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Ginger
There's a reason this flowering plant has been widely used for medicinal and culinary purposes by a myriad of cultures throughout history — it's absolutely loaded with immune-boosting benefits. "Ginger has warming effects, which is believed to help break down the accumulation of toxins in the body," says Dr. Axe. "Plus, it helps to cleanse our lymphatic system, reduce inflammation and fight infections." He suggests adding ginger to your smoothie, drinking ginger tea daily or using an organic ginger essential oil and applying 2-3 drops topically to your stomach.

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BY JENN SINRICH | JAN 29, 2019 | SHARES
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