Go ahead and add boosting your immune system to your ever-growing list of reasons why you should eat right. Long or not the reality is, who has time to eat right?
You know it's important to eat right, but you just don't have any time left over at the end of the day to give good eating much thought. But remember 'You are what you eat' so if you're feeling like a jelly donut right now then perhaps it's time you start making changes to your diet. And here's another reason why you should'
You immune system deserves it!When you consider all that your immune system is responsible for, it's more important than ever to give it the tools it needs to do its job right. The immune system is your body's first line of defense against foreign invaders, but you don't need to arm it with swords or guns. All your immune system needs is some good old vitamins and minerals; the kind you can find right in your neighborhood grocery store.
Whether you get these important vitamins and minerals naturally from the foods you eat or you get them by taking nutritional supplements doesn't matter much at this stage. You've got to do whatever is easier to get those nutrients into your body so they can start running your immune system, and the rest of your body, more efficiently. Ideally it's better to eat right rather than to rely on supplements, especially since there's always the risk of over-supplementation (ingesting too much of a vitamin or mineral), but that's the topic for a different article.
What to feed your immune systemYou're probably wondering which vitamins and minerals your immune system needs most. At the top of the list is Vitamin C. Not only is it an important immune system-boosting vitamin, it's also a powerful antioxidant. Your body needs antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals which is the most effective way to control the cell damage that free radicals can cause. Like rust on the body of your car, your body can suffer irreversible damage from the oxidizing effects of free radicals. A lifetime of unchecked free radicals can weaken the immune system and that in turn can compound the effects of aging.
Vitamin C is abundant in oranges and other citrus fruit and it's also found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, papaya, red pepper, strawberries and spinach. It helps the immune system produce more white blood cells (the cells that help fight infection) and beneficial antibodies such as interferon, a cell coating that helps cells keep viruses out. Getting more Vitamin C into your system won't prevent you from developing a cold or the flu, but it can help lessen the severity of the symptoms and it can help you recover more quickly.
Vitamin E is another antioxidant that helps the immune system boost its reserves of 'killer cells,' those naturally-occurring cells that seek out and destroy cancer cells and germs. The body also needs Vitamin E to produce the immune system antibodies that destroy bacteria. Studies are ongoing to determine whether the boost that Vitamin E gives the immune system can also help slow or even reverse the aging process. Nuts, seeds and grains are rich sources of Vitamin E and so are vegetable, corn, sunflower, canola, soybean, olive and palm oils.
The mineral Zinc is also very beneficial to your body's immune system. Zinc ramps up the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and T-cells, and the system's natural killer cells that help fight germs. Besides helping to increase production, Zinc enhances the fighting capabilities of these cells. Oysters are one of the best sources of zinc.
Carotenoids, bioflavonoids, garlic, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids are some other nutrients that help boost the effectiveness of your immune system. And so is the herbal supplement Immunitril(tm). This revolutionary complex is a unique combination of herbs, extracts, minerals, and anti-oxidant vitamins providing maximum support for immune system function. To see how others express their experience using Immunitril(tm) search for Immunitril(tm) at www.Amazon.com and www.BODeStore.com.
Once you learn more about the many ways these nutrients positively impact your immune system, you'll wonder why you didn't start eating better a long time ago!
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About the Author:| Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on a health or fitness program. |
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