The cliché that health is wealth is not enough until every aspect that health encompasses is put into practice.
Talking about physical exercise through burning down calories, taking quality time of stress and having a good relaxation habit, eating healthy and watching out for the health benefits of what we consume and how it works for or against our immune system and organs, greatly count.
However, most people in Nigeria just eat for the benefit of eating, neglecting if what they consume has any impact on their immune system and health wellness at large. I mean everybody had a family living class back in elementary schools and senior secondary where they were taught classes of foods, what they contain and how it helps our body in growth.
Many people strive to boost their immune system when the world faces doom with the pandemic. Google search engine has a lot of questions regarding: What foods immunity to Coronavirus, foods that boost immunity against COVID-19, how to boost immune system quickly, immune-boosting foods for covid among many other questions.
We have normalised looking for remedy when we are faced with problems when we should have considered the right thing from the outset.
According to MedicalNews today, the immune system consists of organs, cells, tissues, and proteins. Together, these carry out bodily processes that fight off pathogens, which are the viruses, bacteria, and foreign bodies that cause infection or disease.
Here are the foods that keep your immune system strong and fight against radicals:
Citrus Fruits: I remember a doctor friend saying there is no medication for flu rather than taking proper vitamins to boost your immune system. Vitamin C increases the secretion of white blood cells which are key in fighting radicals in our body system. All Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. An article on Healthline reveals our body neither produces nor stores Vitamin so we need daily Vitamin C intake to keep the body immune strong.
Examples of citrus to take are: Orange, watermelon, tangerine, lime and Lemon. Pandemic makes every household discover the importance of Lemon as a great immune booster during the lockdown.
Ginger: Well the use of ginger has been made easy. Some come in the form of powder that can be stored Which you can easily reach out to while cooking as a spice. People use ginger in a variety of dishes and desserts, while some prefer it as tea. According to a review, ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and might contain cholesterol lowering properties.
I remember it serves as a number of antioxidants most people were using during the pandemic.
Green tea: Green tea contains flavonoids, Flavonoids help regulate cellular activity and fight off free radicals that cause oxidative stress on your body. Green tea contains only a small amount of caffeine which may serve as a good substitute for coffee and also boost the immune system.
Garlic: Most people believe garlic can help prevent colds but it has not been scientifically proven. Garlic is a common home remedy for the prevention of colds and other illnesses while some also add it to food spices.
Almonds: Almonds are another source of vitamins. Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. Almonds serve an excellent health benefit which includes lower blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels and promote weight loss.
Broccoli & Spinach: Broccoli serves as a good source of fibre and protein, and contains iron, potassium, calcium, selenium and magnesium as well as the vitamins A, C, E, K and a good array of B vitamins including folic acid while Spinach reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels among other benefits.
Yogurt: yoghurt is healthy, creamy, thick with a mild sour taste which can be high in protein, calcium, vitamins, and live culture, or probiotics, which can enhance the gut microbiota. Those listed nutrients can offer protection for bones and teeth and help prevent digestive problems. However, Low-fat yogurt can be a useful source of protein on a weight-loss diet.
Red Bell Pepper: Red peppers are rich in vitamin c, though roasting them reduces their vitamin C content by up to 25 percent. The vitamin A and beta-carotene in red peppers offer good support for your overall vision and eye health and serve as excellent antioxidants.
Eating similar foods which contains similar nutrients can helps boost immune system and provide the antibodies the body needed to fight radicals
Remember the saying; “You’re what you eat”. Even if you cannot afford the food that will provide you with the nutrients the immune system needs, make efforts to eat at least a little that will help the immune system.