What foods for the immune system we should eat to fight aging?

Nurses are some of the most dedicated professionals out there – they put their own lives on the line to help others. It’s no surprise then that they have had to figure out exactly which foods help strengthen our bodies natural defenses to stay healthy and which ones don’t.

In this article, we’ll explore the top foods nurses recommend to boost your immunity and keep you from aging early!

What Foods for the Immune System Trigger Defensive Mode?

We just need our Immune System to work without overreacting and turning on us in the form of Autoimmune Disorders.

Nurses have learned that eating a good range of foods every day keeps your body ready for whatever comes your way.

Certain foods and habits can give your immunity that extra boost it needs to live to be 100. Otherwise we are learning that our bodies turn inward and attack.

If you want to shift into a new gear, certain foods will help.

Remember, while consuming these superfoods may help boost your immune system, they should be part of a healthy and balanced diet, along with intermittent fasting and regular exercise and sleep. Your microbiome is important to keep you feeling your best so be sure and make your gut health a priority.

If you want to know what foods are gonna give your immune system the biggest boost, there’s no shortage of opinions. The latest studies are all pointing towards our diet being the deciding factor whether we develop chronic illness that causes us to age early and develop chronic illness that leave us miserable.

Overeating and over nutrition is the most serious health problem that we face in the modern world today. The good news is we have complete control our diet.

We used to know we are what we eat, but we have forgot it over time. We can fight chronic illness and chronic pain by eating whole foods and taking care of the gut microbiome we are supposed to take care of as if it were ourselves.

Fasting and intermittant fasting was preventative medicine for every religion 2000 years ago. It was the accepted way of managing what we ate in order to stay healthy.

Science has started to remind us of the fact now that our bad food choices are linked to early aging and chronic illnesses. Kids are getting type 2 Diabetes and we are in the middle of huge epidemics of chronic illnesses that are caused by our lifestyle choices.

Lined up below are fifteen immunity-boosting foods that could make all the difference in slowing your aging process.

Top 16 Immunity-Boosting Foods

1. Garlic

Not just a vampire repellant, garlic also contains allicin which has antiviral properties and immune-boosting properties.

2. Citrus Fruits

Vitamin C is King because it is one of the most important nutrients for boosting immunity. Without the protection of this antioxidant, your cells will take damage when fighting off infections and illness.

• Oranges
• Limes
• Lemons
• Grapefruits

3. Ginger

This spicy root contains gingerol which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that can strengthen your immune system.

4. Turmeric

Known for its bright yellow color, turmeric contains curcumin which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

5. Dark Leafy Greens

Popeye was onto something with his love for spinach, as the dark greens are packed with vitamins and minerals that support immune function. Here are a few examples;

• Spinach
• Kale
• Bokchoy
• Turnips
• Beet Greens

6. Blueberries

These little powerhouses are rich in antioxidants that can help protect your cells from damage and boost your immune system.

7. Almonds

Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, which is important for immune function, as well as protein and healthy fats.

8. Broccoli

This cruciferous vegetable is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and vitamin E, which can help support immune function.

9. Fermented Foods

Yogurt contains probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help support immune function and promote gut health.

• Yogurt
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Sour Cream
• Pickles
• Fermented Veggies

10. Green Tea

Green Tea contains antioxidants called catechins, which can help support immune function and reduce inflammation. Green tea is also a great immune booster, as it contains antioxidants that fight infection after they are activated when processed by beneficial gut bacteria.

11. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a good source of beta-carotene, which can help support immune function and protect against infections.

12. Salmon

Salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies all are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids which can help reduce inflammation throughout the body and improve immune function.

13. Mushrooms

Certain types of mushrooms, like shiitake and reishi, contain compounds that can help boost immune function and reduce inflammation.

14. Kiwi

Kiwi is packed with vitamin C, which can help support immune function and protect against infections.

15. Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which can help boost immune function and protect against disease.

16. Poultry

Lean proteins such as turkey and chicken and their eggs provide high quality amino acids that play an important role in maintaining a healthy immune system. Just make sure they are pasture raised that ate naturally instead of being fed grain or corn.

Vitamin D helps regulate the immune system; fish, eggs, mushrooms, and fortified dairy products are all good sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin E helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals; it’s found in nuts, seeds, and avocados.

Omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation and boost your immune system.

Eating these foods regularly can help keep your immunity strong and fight off infection. So make sure to feed your body with the right nutrition to keep yourself healthy!

Keep Your Good Gut Bacteria Healthy to Fight Infection from The Bad Ones with Prebiotics and Probiotics

Don’t underestimate the work that probiotic bacteria found in foods like yogurt or kefir that contain live bacteria cultures do to help with digestion and bolster your defenses against the bad guys.

Look for foods with live and active cultures like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, kombucha and tempeh. These all contain beneficial bacteria that reduce inflammation and strengthen your gut lining and your immune system. Legumes like beans and lentils are also high in fiber to keep your gut bacteria healthy. They’re nutrient-dense and provide an array of vitamins and minerals that help strengthen your body’s defenses.

While professional medical advice should always be sought when considering preventive medicine, it’s important to note that good bacteria found in probiotic-rich foods can help boost the immune system.

Don’t forget about leafy greens like spinach and kale either – they’re packed full of prebiotic fiber and antioxidants which can help keep your immune system running strong as your probiotic bacteria break them down so your body can use the nutrients.

Eating a Mediterranean diet that incorporates these types of foods is an excellent way to get the prebiotics you need and prevent illness in the process.

So if you want a healthy immune system and want to avoid getting sick, make sure you incorporate plenty of prebiotic-rich foods into your diet to feed your probiotic gut buddies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Of Each Food Should I Eat To Boost My Immune System?

Well, what’s the best way to boost your immune system through food? That’s an important question that many people are asking right now. Luckily, there are some great options out there!

First and foremost is to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. You don’t have to go crazy here; just make sure you’re getting lots of different colors on your plate every day.

Also, it’s a good idea to add some lean proteins like fish, chicken, or beans for extra nutrients. Foods high in antioxidants like berries, apples, spinach, and broccoli can also help protect your cells from damage.

And don’t forget about healthy fats! They provide energy and essential fatty acids that can help keep your body running smoothly. Good sources include avocados, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon.

Finally, try to get plenty of probiotics in the form of yogurt or other fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi. Eating all these foods in moderation will give you the best chance of boosting your immune system naturally.

Which Foods Should I Avoid If I Want To Keep My Immune System Strong?

There are many foods you should avoid so you can keep your immune system strong. It needs all the help it can get so let’s break up with some of the worst offenders.

The shelves of the grocery store should be avoided at all costs that hold boxes and cans of food made in factories.

Processed foods like sugars, anything made with processed flour, vegetable oils, and trans fats are all highly inflammatory to your system because they cause toxins to be released that trigger an immune response.

Inflammatory means that these foods make your immune system think they are invaders and since invaders must be destroyed, it kicks into high gear to rid the body of them.

The problem is that this immune overreaction causes far more damage to your cells, organs, and joints just the food ever could.

The bad gut bacteria feed on sugar and processed carbs. They love them and the good bacteria can not usually process that kind of food.

This gives your bad bacteria the ability to take over your gut. Not having as many healthy and beneficial bacteria around leads to too many nutrients, antioxidants, and other beneficial anti-inflammatory substances from being processed from the healthy foods you eat.

So when it comes to maintaining a strong immune system, it’s best to stick with whole, unprocessed foods like organic fruits and vegetables.

The types that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants along with pasture-raised animals that did not eat grains for the same reasons we shouldn’t eat them.

Veggies and grain sprayed with chemical pesticides and fertilizers and animals that ate these same grains kill off the good gut bacteria in you, me, and the animals we eat.

This is a huge reason that the cows and we are all fattened up today. We too are eating too much of these processed grains that are killing our good gut microbiome and causing spikes in insulin.

It’s also wise to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption as much as possible; even small amounts can suppress the function of white blood cells that are responsible for fighting off infection and disease.

What Supplements Should I Take To Improve My Immune System?

When it comes to boosting your immune system, there are many supplements you can take depending on where your diet is not adequate. Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, Selenium Turmeric, Omega 3s, are all great options to consider if you are not getting enough through your diet.

They all provide essential anti-inflammatory or essential nutrients that can help keep your immune system humming along efficiently.

But before you start popping pills and powders, it’s important to understand the role these supplements play in your body. Taking a supplement is only a small part when it comes to maintaining a strong immune system. Talk with your doctor about what is appropriate for you.

By far more important is to have good nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. All of these are far more effective and important in fighting off invaders with your immune cells.

That said, if you’re looking for a boost in immunity, these supplements might be just what you need.

1. Vitamin C helps fight off infections by boosting white blood cell production
2. Vitamin D has been shown to increase the body’s natural defenses
3. Zinc helps with wound healing and disease prevention

So if you’re looking for an extra edge in staying healthy, these supplements can go a long way in helping keep your immune system strong and resilient.

Be sure to talk to your doctor first to make sure they’re right for you though!

What Lifestyle Changes Should I Make To Enhance My Immune System?

The most important lifestyle changes you should make to enhance your immune system are to your diet and lifestyle.

Get plenty of rest when you feel sick.

Get plenty of sleep then our bodies struggle to fight off infection and disease. Studies have shown that regularly getting seven or more hours of sleep a night can reduce the risk of illness.

Try not to push yourself too hard when you feel sick – aim to get an extra few hours of sleep rather than powering through.

Get enough exercise daily when you are feeling good because it goes a long way to keep your body and immune system working the way they should.

We’re not talking about marathon training here (unless that’s your thing!), just regular physical activity like gardening and walking has been proven to strengthen the body’s natural defenses against infection and disease.

Aim for 30 minutes of exercise at least five times a week – anything from walking, yoga, playing sports, or swimming are all great for boosting immunity!

Why do healthy people sometimes get extremely sick when fighting off an infection?

Some healthy and young people with very strong immune systems get extremely sick when fighting off a virus because their strong immune system overreacts.

I have seen very fit people become extremely ill and require critical care support after they refused to take a break from hard physical training after they developed an infection or came down with a virus.

Be sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids so you do not become dehydrated.

Why are Kids getting type 2 Diabetes and other chronic illnesses?

The metabolic system of a teenager with type 2 Diabetes has been messed up so bad over their short lives and it making them extremely sick.

The foods they have eaten since childhood has caused a lack of a healthy microbiome. The baby’s gut microbiome is seeded during childbirth through the birth canal of the healthy mom. When a baby is born from a C section or the mom also had a damaged microbiome that child has a harder time getting their intestinal bacteria.

The amount of chronic inflammation that these children are dealing with today is caused in part by the neurotoxins that are produced by the bad gut bacteria processing the Fake food that make up a large part of their diet. Chronic pain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, adhd, obesity, type 2 diabetes and so many more health problems are in the future of the child.

They best thing they can do is reach out to a functional medicine doctor who will do testing to see exactly what can be done. I would be happy to point you in the right directon if you feel this is describing you or someone you know.

What Other Nutrients Are Important For A Healthy Immune System?

There are two key elements that your body needs to strengthen its immunity: vitamins and minerals. Vitamins can be found in foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats.

Minerals can be found in leafy greens and certain meats when the veg was raised organically in rich soil with plenty of healthy bacteria. Additionally, protein and fats in grass-fed and pasture-raised meats are important as they help keep your cells functioning properly.

And lastly, Fermented Foods containing beneficial bacteria otherwise known as probiotics are the bacteria inside your gut that are critical for overall health and well-being. Without them, you could not process many of the vitamins and antioxidants your body relies on to stay healthy.

Conclusion

So there you have it! What Foods For The Immune System are best? It is a balanced diet that will help ensure that your body’s natural defense system is running at full force when you need it to be there and keep it quiet when it is not needed.

Eating plenty of whole veggies, fermented foods, and lean proteins are great ways to get those vitamins, probiotics, and minerals into your diet without having to take supplements is the best plan to stay healthy and stop early again and inflammation.

It’s important to remember that no single food or supplement will make up for an unhealthy diet or lifestyle.

So stock up on these 16 immunity-boosting foods, get the recommended daily vitamin C intake, and you’ll be well on your way to not only having a stronger immune system but stopping inflammatory aging in its tracks! What Foods for the Immune System that are best for our bodies are whole and organic.