On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms. But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Feeding your body certain foods may help keep your immune system strong, so you can make your health-oriented diet much more versatile. Most importantly, those products are vegan-friendly.
SEA BARLEY
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Sea Barley used to be a staple food in history, which confers numerous health benefits. It is rich in dietary fibre, that is 17 times more than polished rice and 5 times more than sweet potato. Its dietary fibre consists of soluble and insoluble. Being high in fibre, it promotes bowel movement and detoxifies the intestine and colon. Clean intestine and colon will give rise to healthy skin. The high fibre is able to absorb excess food cholesterol. Sea barley is also high in beta glucan that is able to that is able to prevent metabolic syndrome, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and excessive accumulation of body fat and cholesterol. Sea barley is rich in phytochemicals that may function as anti-oxidants which is able to prevent cancer.
BROCCOLI
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Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins and minerals. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as many other antioxidants and fiber, broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can put on your table. The key to keeping its power intact is to cook it as little as possible — or better yet, not at all.
SWEET POTATO
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This fruit made the list of foods that strengthen the immune system due to the fact that it’s rich in vitamin A. This particular element doesn’t have some special boosting effect, like vitamin C, but its deficiency has many debilitating effects.
Sweet potatoes are a delicious source of vitamin A that can be incorporated into a vegan diet in many ways. Eating them regularly would help you keep the level of this immunity-controlling nutrient in check.
MUSHROOM
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Everyone knows that mushrooms make a great vegan alternative to meat, but few people appreciate just how useful this food is. Immunity-wise, these unassuming plants stimulate the synthesis of white blood cells. These are the cells that actively fight infections that get into your blood.
Their increased number has the added benefit of making the cells more aggressive in their defensive function. The effect is so strong that some types of mushrooms are used in herbal medicine even today. The best species to include in your diet are reishi, maitake, and shiitake.
ALMOND
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Like with vitamin A, the immunity boosting effects of vitamin E are often disregarded. However, this element is vital for maintaining your body’s natural defenses. It literally enhances the layer of your body’s protection against harmful elements.
One of the most important health benefits of almonds is their high content of vitamin E. As this is a fat-soluble element and the nuts contain ‘good’ fats, this is one of the best sources of this specific nutrient.
GINGER
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Ginger is another ingredient many turn to after getting sick. Ginger may help decrease inflammation, which can help reduce a sore throat and other inflammatory illnesses. Ginger may also help decrease nausea.
While it's used in many sweet desserts, ginger packs some heat in the form of gingerol, a relative of capsaicin. Ginger may help decrease chronic pain and may possess cholesterol-lowering properties.
CINNAMON
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Many people think that cinnamon is nothing more than a pleasantly smelling spice, but in truth, it definitely deserves the place on the list of foods that strengthen the immune system. The spice possesses outstanding antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
It’s also a great source of volatile oils that benefit digestion and stimulate the circulatory system. In simple words, adding a pinch of cinnamon to your breakfast cereal or even coffee is a fantastic way to give your body an immunity-boosting charge in the morning.
CITRUS FRUITS
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Most people turn to vitamin C after they've caught a cold. That’s because it helps build up your immune system. Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells. These are key to fighting infections.
Because your body doesn't produce or store it, you need daily vitamin C for continued health. Almost all 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.
PAPAYA
Photo by Ilyuza Mingazova
Papaya is another fruit loaded with vitamin C. You can find 224 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C in a single papaya. Papayas also have a digestive enzyme called papain that has anti-inflammatory effects.Papayas have decent amounts of potassium, B vitamins, and folate, all of which are beneficial to your overall health.
