Regularly eating a variety of nutritious foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as citrus fruits, spinach, red peppers, and ginger, may help boost your immune system.
While no food can prevent or cure infections or disease, feeding your body certain foods may help keep your immune system strong.
If you’re looking for ways to prevent colds, the flu, and other infections, your first step could be a visit to your local grocery store. Plan your meals to include these 15 powerful immune system boosters.
Food Fix: Immune System Boost
Most people turn straight to vitamin C after they’ve caught a cold. That’s because it may help build up your immune system.
Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections.
Most citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. With such a variety to choose from, it’s easy to add a squeeze of this vitamin to any meal.
Popular citrus fruits include:
Because your body doesn’t produce or store it, you need daily vitamin C for continued health. The
- 75 mg for women
- 90 mg for men
If you opt for supplements, avoid taking more than 2,000 milligrams (mg) a day.
Red bell peppers (100 g) contain almost 3 times as much vitamin C –
Besides boosting your immune system, vitamin C may help you maintain healthy skin. Beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A, may help keep your eyes and skin healthy.
Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins and minerals. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as fiber and many other antioxidants, broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can put on your plate.
The key to keeping its power intact is to cook it as little as possible — or better yet, not at all.
Garlic adds flavor to food and has long been used for medicinal purposes.
Early civilizations recognized its value in fighting infections. Garlic may also slow down hardening of the arteries, and
Garlic’s immune-boosting properties seem to come from a heavy concentration of sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin.
Ginger is another ingredient many turn to after getting sick. Ginger may help decrease inflammation, which may help reduce a sore throat and inflammatory illnesses. It may also help with nausea.
While it’s used in many sweet desserts, ginger packs some heat in the form of gingerol,
Ginger may also decrease chronic pain and might even possess
Spinach made our list not just because it’s rich in vitamin C — it’s also packed with numerous antioxidants and beta-carotene, which may both increase the infection-fighting ability of our immune systems.
Similar to broccoli, spinach is healthiest when
Look for yogurts that have the phrase “live and active cultures” printed on the label, like Greek yogurt. These cultures may stimulate your immune system to help fight diseases.
Try to get plain yogurts rather than the kind that are flavored and loaded with sugar. You can sweeten plain yogurt yourself with healthy fruits and a drizzle of honey instead.
Yogurt can also be a great source of vitamin D, so try to select brands fortified with this vitamin. Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system and is thought to boost our body’s natural defenses against diseases.
When it comes to preventing and fighting off colds, vitamin E tends to take a backseat to vitamin C. However, this powerful antioxidant is key to a healthy immune system.
It’s a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it requires the presence of fat to be absorbed properly. Nuts, such as almonds, are packed with vitamins and also have healthy fats.
Adults only need about
Sunflower seeds are full of nutrients, including phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and E.
Vitamin E is important in regulating and maintaining immune system function. Avocados and dark leafy greens are other foods with high amounts of vitamin E.
Sunflower seeds are also high in selenium. Just 1 ounce contains
You may know turmeric as a key ingredient in many curries. This bright yellow, bitter spice has also been used for years as an anti-inflammatory in treating both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Both green and black teas are packed with flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Where green tea really excels is in its levels of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), another powerful antioxidant.
One small papaya contains
Like papayas, kiwis are a rich source of essential nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin C.
Vitamin C boosts the white blood cells to fight infection, while kiwi’s other nutrients keep the rest of your body functioning properly.
When you’re sick, and you reach for chicken soup, it’s more than just the placebo effect that makes you feel better. The soup may help lower inflammation, which could improve symptoms of a cold.
Poultry, such as chicken and turkey, is high in vitamin B6. About 3 ounces of light turkey or chicken meat contains
Vitamin B6 is an important player in many of the chemical reactions that happen in the body. It’s also vital to the formation of new and healthy red blood cells.
Stock or broth made by boiling chicken bones contains gelatin, chondroitin, and other nutrients helpful for gut health and immunity.
Shellfish isn’t what jumps to mind for many who are trying to boost their immune system, but some types of shellfish provide zinc, a nutrient that supports immune function.
Varieties of shellfish that are high in zinc include:
- oysters
- crab
- lobster
- mussels
Keep in mind that you don’t want to have more than the
- 11 mg for adult men
- 8 mg for most adult women
Too much zinc can actually inhibit immune system function.
Boosting your immune system quickly isn’t possible, but the sooner you get started with a few lifestyle changes, the sooner you may improve your overall well-being and, ultimately, your immune system.
You may want to focus on eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh foods and whole grains, engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, get enough sleep, manage stress with deep breathing or talk therapy, avoid or quit smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.
Preliminary research suggests vitamin C may be involved in the development and function of white blood cells. It seems vitamin C may improve the reproduction of B- and T-cells, which are important white blood cells for the immune system.
The amount of vitamin C needed to increase white blood cells may depend on the condition and overall health needs. More research in humans is needed to better understand the link between vitamin C and white blood cells.
To raise your white blood cell count, you may want to avoid alcohol and tobacco and eat a balanced diet. For example, a 2021 study found that the Mediterranean diet had an effect on the white blood cell counts of adults at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Depending on the cause of low white blood cells, you may also need to take medications like myeloid growth factors.
Antiviral foods may include fermented vegetables (kimchi), fermented milk (yogurt and kefir), herbs (oregano, fennel, peppermint, and aloe vera), garlic, ginger, turmeric, black cumin, cinnamon, licorice root, mushrooms, and citrus fruits.
Some foods may boost your immune system, while others may help with their antimicrobial properties. This means they may help fight bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that cause infections. Examples include herbs and spices (oregano, cinnamon, clove, and rosemary), cruciferous vegetables (kale and rutabaga), citrus fruits, parsley, and a wide range of other plant-based foods.
Eating a variety of vegetables may help boost your immune system. Red peppers, spinach, and broccoli are good choices, as are ginger, turmeric, and garlic.
Eating all types of fresh fruits regularly may help your immune system function well. Bananas, in particular, contain a substance called lectin. One study in rodents found that banana lectin may enhance the immune system. More studies in humans are needed to confirm whether lectin has a significant effect on the human immune system.
Fresh foods can provide you with the nutrients your immune system needs to work correctly. To stay as healthy as possible, consider a diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, herbs, and spices.
Citrus fruits, spinach, almonds, papaya, and green tea are good foods to boost the immune system.
It’s worth remembering, though, that diet alone can’t keep us healthy. It’s also essential to exercise, maintain a moderate weight, and limit habits such as smoking and high alcohol consumption.
Although eating a balanced diet is key to boosting your immunity, foods alone cannot and should not replace medical treatment, unless your healthcare professional recommends it.
