Naturally Boost Your Immune System During The Winter Months
Now that the holidays are over, the new year is in full swing, but this may not be such a good thing for your overall health. The business and the hustle and bustle of the holiday period brought with it high amounts of stress, poor eating habits, less frequent physical activity and even less time for the body to recuperate adequately. Because of this, January in particular is arguably the most vulnerable month out of the 12 for the immune systems health and ability to properly function.
With colder temperatures, and already so much wear and tare on the body, sicknesses such as the common cold and influenza often run rampant in the first month of the year. Bundling up outside, sticking to a healthy intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as regular physical activity, can help to boost the immune system during its high time of vulnerability, and in doing so, you decrease the risk of falling ill.
It's important to know and understand that what we eat plays a large role in assisting our immune system. This is due to the fact that a strong immune system cannot become a reality if the health of the gut is in jeopardy. Over 70 percent of the immune system itself is comprised of the gut, and ingesting probiotics on a regular basis can help keep your gut in check.
Here is a short list of foods that you can incorporate into your healthy diet that are proven to help fortify the immune system:
Artichoke
The naturally occurring nutrients within this vegetable, not only add to its delicious flavor, but also give the body the boost it needs to remain healthy and to fight infection or bacteria.
Raspberries
Full and rich in vitamin C & E as well as an array of heart healthy antioxidants, this berry (along with just about any other berry) helps to build up the immune system during the winter months.
Yogurt
Particularly Greek yogurt, fermented foods are known to help naturally balance gut flora and support immune cells within the body.
Avocado
The fatty acids located within avocados help support a healthy inflammatory response.
Legumes
This great source of protein helps to keep the immune cells compact and whole, without them the system would struggle to function.
Oysters
The beta-glucans found in oysters help to support healthy immunity.
Mushrooms
Filled with nucleotides, mushrooms are the stability found within the bodies DNA and RNA and are essential to the production and function of immune cells.