Foods for Fighting Infection: Boost Your Immunity and Fight Infection
What foods can help boost your immunity and fight infection. Get the facts on immune-boosting nutrients from whole food sources.
Vitamin C: Citrus Fruits and Greens
Consuming foods high in vitamin C, such as grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, sweet red peppers, broccoli, strawberries, kale, and kiwifruit, are thought to increase white blood cell production, which is key to fighting infection.
Beta-Carotene: Root Vegetables and Greens
Beta-carotene converts into vitamin A, which is an anti-inflammatory vitamin that can help your antibodies respond to toxins, such as a virus. Carrots, spinach, kale, apricots, sweet potato, squash, and cantaloupe are all great sources of beta-carotene. Consuming foods with healthy fats will aid in the absorption of vitamin A.
Vitamin E: Nuts, Seeds, and Greens
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is key in regulating and supporting immune system function. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, avocado, and spinach.
Antioxidants: Green Tea
Green tea is packed with antioxidants that have been shown to enhance immune system function. It also contains amino acids that may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, which reduces inflammation in the body and helps fight infection. Green tea can be consumed hot, cold or as matcha powder.
Vitamin D: Sunshine, Fish, and Eggs
Vitamin D is essential to immune function and helps regulate the body’s immune response. Vitamin D can be found in salmon, canned tuna, egg yolks, and mushrooms. Your body can also synthesize vitamin D with just 13-15 minutes of sunshine three times a week.
Probiotics, Gut Health, and Immunity
Yogurt, Kombucha, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh (Fermented Soybeans), and certain types of cheese contain live cultures, also known as probiotics, which are thought to help stimulate the immune system to fight off disease. The microbiome or the “good bacteria” in your digestive system determine how other nutrients and harmful bacteria are processed in your body, making probiotics perhaps one of the most important functions for immunity.
Garlic: T-Cell Booster
Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs in a variety of ways by stimulating cells important to fighting disease and helping to regulate the immune system. It helps boost the production of virus-fighting T-cells and can reduce the amount of stress hormones your body produces which can help keep your immune system functioning at full strength.
Vitamin B-6: Lymphatic System Boost and Red Blood Cells
Vitamin B-6 is essential in the formation of new and healthy red blood cells, and aids in maintaining the lymphatic system. Chicken, turkey, cold-water fish (salmon and tuna), chickpeas (traditional hummus), bananas, fortified breakfast cereal, and nutritional yeast are great options for consuming vitamin B-6.
Water: Hydration and Immunity
Water helps produce lymph which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells through the body. There are many foods with high water content such as cucumbers, watermelon, and celery. Proper hydration makes it easier for immune-boosting nutrients to get to where they need to go (cells) in your body.
Zinc: Shellfish, Poultry, and Beans
Immune system cells need zinc to function as they are intended. Zinc is a mineral that our body does not store or produce. While oysters have the highest food content of zinc, there are several other options such as shellfish (crab, clams, lobster, and mussels), poultry (chicken or turkey), red meat and beans. Zinc is also found in fortified cereals and some breads, but the best absorption comes from whole food sources.
Boost Your Immunity with Whole Foods
Making sure you are eating a diet high in immune-boosting nutrients is one way you can take an active role in maintaining your health and wellness. Your body uses and absorbs nutrients more efficiently when they come from whole food sources like fruits and vegetables, rather than processed foods or supplements. Getting a variety of these foods and nutrients in your diet is essential compared to focusing on just one or two in large quantities.
The Importance of a Colorful Plate
The more colorful your plate is with a variety of choices from the list above, the better. Consuming a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats will provide your body with the essential nutrients it needs to bolster your immune system and fight off infection.
Choose Foods that Boost Your Immunity and Fight Infection
Now more than ever with the COVID-19 outbreak, we need to find ways to boost our immune system as much as possible.
Making sure you are eating a diet high in immune-boosting nutrients is one way you can take an active role in maintaining your health and wellness.
Your body uses and absorbs nutrients more efficiently when they come from whole food sources like fruits and vegetables, rather than processed foods or supplements. Getting a variety of these foods and nutrients in your diet is essential compared to focusing on just one or two in large quantities. The more colorful your plate is with a variety of choices from the list below, the better.
1. Vitamin C – Citrus Fruits & Greens
Consuming foods high in vitamin C such as grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, sweet red pepper, broccoli, strawberries, kale, and kiwifruit are thought to increase white blood cell production, which is key to fighting infection.
2. Beta-Carotene – Root Vegetables & Greens
Beta-carotene converts into vitamin A, which is an anti-inflammatory vitamin that can help your antibodies respond to toxins, such as a virus. Carrots, spinach, kale, apricots, sweet potato, squash, and cantaloupe are all great sources of beta-carotene. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, so consuming foods with healthy fats will aid in its absorption. A great immune-boosting combination would be carrots with traditional hummus or a spinach salad with avocado or olive oil in the dressing.
3. Vitamin E – Nuts, Seeds & Greens
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is key in regulating and supporting immune system function. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds, avocado, and spinach.
4. Antioxidants – Green Tea
Green tea is packed with antioxidants that have been shown to enhance immune system function. It also contains amino acids that may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, which reduces inflammation in the body and helps fight infection. Green tea can be consumed hot, cold or as matcha powder.
5. Vitamin D – Sunshine, Fish & Eggs
Vitamin D is essential to immune function and helps regulate the body’s immune response. Vitamin D can be found in salmon, canned tuna, egg yolks, and mushrooms. Your body can also synthesize vitamin D with just 13-15 minutes of sunshine three times a week.
6. Probiotics, Gut Health & Immunity
Yogurt, Kombucha, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh (Fermented Soybeans), and certain types of cheese contain live cultures, also known as probiotics, which are thought to help stimulate the immune system to fight off disease. The microbiome or the “good bacteria” in your digestive system determine how other nutrients and harmful bacteria are processed in your body, making probiotics perhaps one of the most important functions for immunity. The microbiome helps you process the nutrients described throughout the rest of this article, while also acting as an extra barrier for fighting off harmful bacteria and fungi.
7. Garlic – T-Cell Booster
Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs in a variety of ways by stimulating cells important to fighting disease and helping to regulate the immune system. It helps boost the production of virus-fighting T-cells and can reduce the amount of stress hormones your body produces which can help keep your immune system functioning at full strength.
8. Vitamin B-6 – Lymphatic System Boost & Red Blood Cells
Vitamin B-6 is essential in the formation of new and healthy red blood cells, and aids in maintaining the lymphatic system. Chicken, turkey, cold-water fish (salmon and tuna), chickpeas (traditional hummus), bananas, fortified breakfast cereal, and nutritional yeast are great options for consuming vitamin B-6.
9. Water – Hydration & Immunity
Water helps produce lymph which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells through the body. There are many foods with high water content such as cucumbers, watermelon, and celery. If you have a hard time drinking plain water, try a cup of green tea with lemon, watermelon, cucumber or mint-infused water for an immune system powerhouse beverage. Think of proper hydration as a way to make it easier for immune-boosting nutrients to get to where they need to go (cells) in your body.
10. Zinc – Shellfish, Poultry, and Beans
Immune system cells need zinc to function as they are intended. Zinc is a mineral that our body does not store or produce. While oysters have the highest food content of zinc, there are several other options such as shellfish (crab, clams, lobster, and mussels), poultry (chicken or turkey), red meat and beans. Zinc is also found in fortified cereals and some breads, but the best absorption comes from animal-based foods.
Tammy Ward, RD, a specialist in oncology nutrition at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, shares, “Having the tools you need, such as the information provided here, gives you the framework to plan the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of eating to support a healthy immune system. As you take stock of this information, consider layering the practice of mindful eating to your plan. Mindful eating is a way to be present, focused and tuned in to the pleasure of eating. This practice can also help decrease stress which can adversely affect your immune system. As you sit down to enjoy your meals, possibly with friends or family members, take time to consider where your food came from, the journey the food took to get to your plate, its taste, texture, and aroma. The practice of mindful eating helps us slow down, stay in the moment and reconnect to the food that fuels our bodies. Bon appetit!”
Can what you eat help you fight disease? The 4 best foods for your immune system
Every day, your body makes it possible for you to think, dream, breathe, rest and move. Getting the right nutrients makes it easier for your body to support you. As one of the “three pillars of health,” nutritious food helps support your immune system.
Proper nutrition helps you fight off illness. Eating healthy:
- Helps you fight all viral and bacterial infections more effectively
- Improves your mood and energy level
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Can’t substitute for social distancing or wearing a mask around others
- Can be a lifestyle, rather than a strict diet or counting calories
Every little bit of healthy eating helps your body fight disease more effectively. Read on to find out why some foods help your body fight invaders and others don’t.
Inflammation: a cry for help
Eating foods that reduce inflammation (“anti-inflammatory” foods) helps your immune system.
When invaders arrive, your body sends out an SOS signal to alert your immune system with inflammation. Inflammation is a cry for help, a declaration of war to sound the alarm against invaders.
Inflammation:
- Helps your body kill invaders
- Protects you from infection
- Looks and feels like redness, swelling, heat and pain
The body regulates inflammation through the immune system. Your immune system can sound the alarm (cause inflammation) even without invaders around. This overreaction can be harmful.
“Short term localized inflammation is beneficial for self-healing,” says Amie Hollard, MD. “Long-lasting inflammation can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity.”
Too much inflammation limits your body’s ability to fight invaders like the coronavirus. Try these foods to reduce inflammation and help your immune system.
Foods that help your immune system
- Try new veggies and fruits. Specific veggies and fruits that reduce inflammation are apples, berries, tomatoes, celery and onions.
- Add fermented foods. Fermented foods have “good bacteria,” a.k.a. probiotics that help your immune system. Eating more fermented foods also reduces gas, bloating and diarrhea. Sauerkraut, yogurt and kombucha are all great sources of these mighty microbes.
- Drink more water. Water helps your body naturally remove toxins and also carries oxygen to your entire body. You don’t have to drink eight glasses of water a day to notice a difference in your health. A little extra hydration every day helps a lot.
- Get some omega-3s. Salmon, walnuts and chia seeds have omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation. These omega-3s are also perfect for construction. When creating new defenders, your body uses omega-3s as essential “building blocks” in cell walls.
Foods to avoid to feel your best
- Limit processed foods. Salty, processed foods can limit your body’s ability to fight infectious diseases effectively. No need to cut out everything unhealthy or start a strict diet. Try scaling back just a little – replace chips with carrots for a crunchy snack.
- Minimize sugar. Sugar is okay in moderation, but too much sugar may weaken your immune system.
- Decrease high-fat foods. Your gut doesn’t like a lot of red meats or fatty foods. The mighty microbes in your gut prefer leafy greens, fiber and other nutrient-dense foods that are easier to break down.
Can supplements prevent viral and bacterial infections?
No single food, nutrient or supplement can prevent infections, but eating healthy helps your body fight disease. It’s all about balance. Supplements (like vitamins and minerals) can be helpful, but only if you’re not getting enough of those nutrients regularly.
Supplements can actually be bad for you if you take too much at one time. Everything is best in moderation. If you have underlying or chronic health conditions, check with your primary care provider before taking them.
Want to see your primary care provider from home? Get care anywhere with new telehealth options.
How food affects health
The foods you eat help your immune system. Inflammation is a natural alert to fight invaders. But, if it goes on too long, it can hurt you and your ability to fight disease effectively.
Foods to help you reduce inflammation include:
- Apples, berries, tomatoes, celery and onions (veggies and fruits)
- Yogurt, sauerkraut and kombucha (probiotics)
- Salmon, walnuts and chia seeds (omega-3 fatty acids)
No matter your shape or size, your body is beautiful. It’s okay if you’ve been eating more comfort food than usual. See if there are ways to mix these invader-fighting foods into your lifestyle. A great first step would be adding a few new foods to your shopping list.
Each week, we’re focusing on one of the three pillars to improve your overall health and support your immune system.
- Sleep was the first pillar of health
- Food is our second pillar of health for a strong immune system
- Exercise is the third pillar of health in helping your body fight disease
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Eat and don’t get sick. What foods fight viruses? | HEALTH
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What foods to eat in winter so as not to get sick? / pixabay. com / pixabay.com
How to protect immunity in the cold Ural autumn and harsh winter? What foods can help fight viral diseases? What should you eat during a pandemic so as not to gain weight while working remotely, but at the same time give the body all the necessary vitamins?
Employees of scientific laboratories of the Unified Laboratory Complex (ELC) of the Ural State University of Economics spoke about valuable products that can be bought in almost any store at an affordable price.
Yoghurt
The intestine is the main organ responsible for immunity. To keep it in good working condition, it is necessary to consume foods with pro- and prebiotics.
“In autumn and winter, we do not have enough sun, there is a decrease in photosynthesis processes, the air is poorly cleaned, and accordingly, a large number of viruses and bacteria form in it. Air quality affects the mucous membrane of our body. The oropharynx, female organs, and intestines suffer. To avoid this, it is necessary to consume foods enriched with pro- and prebiotics. The main sources of probiotics are fermented milk products: yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk, curdled milk, etc.”
Yogurt at home. Photo: AiF Collage/ Evgeny Isakov
Honey
According to experts, honey is a source of useful substances such as carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. But in order for this product to really benefit the human body, you need to know the features of its use.
“Honey is best used in the evening, as it is an excellent antidepressant, can reduce anxiety, relieve irritability and tension, normalize sleep, has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, improves digestion, activates metabolic processes, lowers the acidity of gastric juice, corrects microflora, excites appetite”.
Why is honey useful?
- Honey contains: fructose, glucose, sucrose, vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, Vit. C, as well as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iodine, amino acids.
- Has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and rejuvenating effects.
- Its use helps to strengthen bones, gums and tooth enamel, increase immunity and body resistance.
- Honey helps lower blood pressure, normalize blood cholesterol levels, improve heart function, prevent anemia, diabetes, and cancer.
By the way, if you add honey to milk and drink a drink before going to bed, you can get up on your feet during a cold. Also, during colds, it is useful to drink honey water – a drink made from warm water and natural honey.
Honey relaxes, relieves stress, strengthens the immune system. Photo: pixabay.com
How to store honey?
If you bought honey in a plastic jar, put it in a glass or clay container. In the refrigerator, the product loses its useful properties and structure. It is recommended to store the product in complete darkness, as many useful substances quickly decompose. The ideal range is from -6°C to +20°C.
Sauerkraut
Another healthy product that should be consumed regularly in the autumn-winter period is sauerkraut. By the way, you can not only buy it in a store with various additives – cranberries, honey, apples – but also cook it at home.
“Everyone knows that sauerkraut is an antioxidant food that is the richest in vitamins C, K and A. Vitamin C protects against seasonal infections. Especially cabbage is rich in iron, protein and calcium, which are a strong defense for the human body as a healthy food. Sauerkraut is also a unique product in terms of the content of fermented dietary fiber and bifidobacteria. They stimulate the immune system, help the intestines fight infections, are useful for improving the nervous system, improve brain function, normalize memory, and relieve depression.
Usually cumin, horseradish, carrots, cranberries or lingonberries are added to sauerkraut. Photo: Shutterstock.com
As an antioxidant, sauerkraut prevents malignant transformation of cells, does not destroy DNA chains, preventing mutations. Sauerkraut juice prevents any disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and is useful for general healing of the body.
Berries
In the cold season it is useful to drink a lot of water, berry fruit drinks, rosehip infusions. They not only restore fluid reserves in the body, but also strengthen the immune system.
“As my colleagues have already noted, in the autumn-winter period it is very important to monitor the hydration of the mucous membranes, since they perform a barrier function, protecting us from viral infections. When the mucous membranes dry out, microcracks appear, through which the virus immediately enters the bloodstream. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the body’s water balance.
Cowberries, cranberries, hawthorn, blueberries have an antiseptic effect because they contain vitamins C and A, tannins, anthocyanins and arginine. Doctors recommend berries and fruit drinks, syrups from them as a prevention of colds, chronic fatigue, recurrence of urinary tract infections.
Berries can be consumed as you like: fresh or in the form of sweet drinks. Photo: pixabay.com
Rose hips hold the record among berries for the content of vitamin C, which is important for the immune system.
If you use 1-3 rose hips per day, you can restore the daily intake of vit C, which is 90 mg.
Ludmila Budnik reminds that berries should not be poured with boiling water, because vitamin C is destroyed at 70 °C. The longer the rosehip is infused in hot water, the more the berries give off ascorbic acid, essential oils and tannins, thereby contributing to the penetration into the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, protecting against tracheitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, laryngitis.
Proper nutrition for immunity
Now, when the coronavirus is actively spreading in the world and most people work remotely, it is important to keep a daily routine and eat right. This will help not to overeat, but at the same time saturate the body with useful elements.
“The products we talked about are the most affordable and are available in almost any store. It does not require large expenses to use them to increase immunity and enter the autumn-winter period. The presented products can be mixed with each other, for example, add berries to cabbage, honey to milk, rosehip syrup to yogurt. By combining, you can make interesting, unique recipes for personal use. What else are these products good for? All of them contain small amounts of substances that help absorb vitamin D and Omega 3.
The cold season is a difficult test for the body’s immune system, but it is in our power to strengthen it and maintain it in such a state until warm days.
proper nutrition
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Nutrition during COVID-19
There is not a single food product that can destroy the coronavirus or prevent it from entering the human body. Rose hips, onions, sea buckthorn, lard, butter, pepper, oak tincture, green tea, fish, or broccoli do not protect against COVID-19 infection, although eating them is very useful. Compliance with some recommendations in everyday life will help to resist the infection to one degree or another.
1. Drinking mode. Moist mucous membranes are the first barrier to the virus. WHO does not give clear recommendations on the amount of water that a person should drink. There are too many factors influencing this value. This is the physical and physiological state of a person, age, the presence of various diseases, environmental conditions (heat, heating season), the composition of the diet, habits, and more. It is believed that a person needs at least 25 ml / kg / day. However, this figure can reach up to 60 ml / kg / day.
2. 80% of our immunity is located in the intestines. And the use of foods rich in fiber helps maintain the normal microflora of our intestines. In addition, vegetables, fruits, berries are rich in polyphenols, pectin, vitamins of various groups.
WHO recommends a daily intake of at least 400 grams of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Quercetin has been proven to be active against viruses. It is found in green and yellow peppers, asparagus, cherries, and capers.
It is recommended to include red and green algae in the diet, because they contain griffithsin, which has been shown to be effective against the herpes virus and HIV infection.
Garlic and onion contain alliin, which, when cut or crushed, converts to allicin, a substance called a natural antibiotic. It has high activity against bacteria. It is stored in the blood and gastric juice. How this substance interacts with viruses, unfortunately, has not been studied enough. But it has been used for many centuries for the prevention and treatment of SARS.
Ginger, which, unlike garlic, also has a pleasant smell, due to the high content of ascorbic acid, B and A vitamins, zinc, calcium, iodine, natural antibiotics and antifungal elements, along with gem garlic, has a strengthening effect on body and increases resistance to various diseases.
Ginger’s active ingredient, gingerol, significantly alleviates inflammation and chronic pain. Ginger is also known to help the body cleanse itself of almost all types of toxins.
Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, is considered a powerful immune stimulant and natural antibiotic that prevents bacterial complications from viral infections.
The use of lemons for colds is due to the content of ascorbic acid in a special form in this fruit. The fact is that ascorbic acid is a strong reducing agent. It is able to restore iron, which is in an oxidized state. Reduced iron can react to form free radicals. If you have an infection, free radicals will help your body deal with it, as they kill all living things, including viruses and bacteria. It is important that lemons, like other citrus fruits, are not the only and not the richest source of ascorbic acid. They should be consumed whole with the skin on. In addition to citrus fruits, it is recommended to use deep-frozen berries and vegetables that do not lose their properties. The leader in the content of vitamin C are black currants, rose hips, cranberries and other berries, sauerkraut, bell peppers, green leafy vegetables and others. It would not be superfluous to recall that during the spread of COVID-19 infection, all fruits, berries and vegetables that are eaten without heat treatment must be thoroughly washed.
3. Products containing pro- and prebiotics also contribute to the maintenance of normal intestinal microflora. Fermented milk products are an excellent source of calcium, vitamins and trace elements, have a positive effect on the natural intestinal flora, due to the content of lactobacilli.
Chicory and Jerusalem artichoke, due to their inulin content, are essential for maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
4. For the health of cell membranes – Omega-3 . Marine fish species such as halibut, salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel and sardines, as well as linseed oil, are high in omega-3 acids, which provide the building blocks for the production of anti-inflammatory hormones called eicosanoids, which are beneficial to the immune system. For the normal functioning of the body, 1-7 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids are needed per day. Omega-3s have a beneficial effect on the human immune system. In the diet 2-3 times a week should be oily fish. Vegetable oils contain Omega -6, -9fatty acids, also indispensable for our body. It is recommended to consume 20-25 grams of vegetable oils per day.
5. Vitamin D is the most immunomodulatory vitamin. 80% of our population is deficient in this vitamin, especially during the period when there is little sun outside the window.
A full-fledged source of vitamin will be fish, the most useful are recognized: halibut, mackerel, cod, herring, tuna and the liver of these fish. Other sources of vitamin D are eggs, organ meats, forest mushrooms, and dairy products.
You can also drink it in preparations or supplements to get at least 400 – 800 IU per day.
6. Our lungs are a very fat-dependent organ, and without a full intake of fats in the body with food, the work of the lungs is disrupted. A factor that harms the lungs no less than the notorious smoking is a low-fat diet. The lack of fat in the diet leads to the fact that any infection, including COVID-19 infection, much more easily penetrates into the bronchi and lungs, weakened by a low-fat diet.
An adult needs 70-80 grams of fat per day, up to 30% of which must be provided by fats of animal origin.
Why are fats so essential for the lungs? The smallest structural components of the lungs, where gas exchange occurs, the alveoli, are covered from the inside with a special substance, a surfactant. It maintains the alveoli in the form of bubbles and prevents them from “sticking together” on exhalation. And also accelerates the entry of oxygen from the alveoli into the blood.
Surfactant consists of more than 90% from fats (phospholipids). The daily requirement for phospholipids is approximately 5 g. In a chicken egg they contain 3.4%, in unrefined vegetable oils – 1-2%, in butter – 0.3-0.4%. Few fats in the diet – there will be little surfactant in the lungs! Oxygen will be absorbed poorly, and even the freshest air will not save you from hypoxia.
7. Meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs are a source of animal protein, which the body needs to create tissues and synthesize hormones, as well as immune proteins – antibodies that play an important role in protecting the body from bacteria, viruses and parasites. Vegetable proteins are considered less valuable in terms of amino acid composition, but should be included in the diet. The most protein-rich are legumes (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas), nuts, seeds (quinoa, sesame, pumpkin seed) and, of course, soybeans and their products. An adult needs to receive 0.8-1.2 g / kg of body weight of proteins per day, more than half of them should be of animal origin.
However, all these “wonderful” products have a non-specific beneficial effect on the human body, ie. useful for any infections.
Do not forget that food can harm the immune system. High-calorie foods, smoked meats, canned foods and marinades, refined foods with a predominance of saturated fats or trans fats, fast food, sugars and salt reduce the body’s natural defenses.
Simple carbohydrates (sugars) are the cause of systemic inflammation. The starch found in potatoes, corn, rutabaga and some other vegetables, grains and refined white cereals is the same sugar. It is sugar that creates glycated hemoglobin, which “scratches” our blood vessels, causing inflammation of the vascular wall. Sugar is very fond of pathogenic bacteria and intestinal fungi, inhibiting the growth of our friendly microflora and reducing our immunity. Thus, it is better to refuse sweets, pastries and confectionery, sweet drinks.
Avoiding alcoholic beverages is also beneficial, as these foods slow down the absorption of nutrients.
It must be remembered that immunity is affected not only by nutrition, but also by many other factors. These are heredity, chronic diseases, physiological conditions (for example, pregnancy, old age, puberty, etc.), the presence of bad habits, poor ecology, stress, insomnia and much more.
How to eat if a person is ill?
The body of a sick person works in a stressful mode, and in order to support it, treatment is carried out not only with medication, but also with nutrition. At any stage, whether it is an acute illness or already recovering, the food taken should not cause additional stress to the body.
Nutrition at each stage of the development of the pathological process has its own characteristics. When the body first becomes ill, it needs nutrients to support the immune system in the fight against infection. You should make your diet more varied. Since our immunity is of a protein nature, it is necessary to make sure that meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, t-legumes, nuts, whole grains are present in the diet every day. Fish should be included in the diet 2-3 times a week. It is not only a source of high-quality protein, trace elements, vitamins, but also essential Omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Other sources of subunsaturated fatty acids are vegetable oils. Vegetables, fruits, berries, seeds will provide the body with fiber, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and create favorable conditions for the normal intestinal microflora to work – this is necessary for the formation of immunity.
With the further development of the disease, nutrition should be aimed at removing toxins, increasing the body’s resistance to infection. One of the main requirements in the acute period is easy digestibility of food. This allows you not to overload the body with work, the forces of which are focused on fighting the disease. This can be achieved by frequent fractional eating, steamed, in the oven and other gentle methods that maximize the preservation of beneficial properties and increase the bioavailability of food.
Particular attention should be paid to the drinking regimen. If there are no contraindications or other prescriptions of the attending physician, it is necessary to take liquid in the amount of 30-40 mg / kg of body weight per day, taking into account all the liquid in the diet. It can be pure drinking water
, it is possible with the addition of juices, fruit drinks, teas with the addition of mint, sage, rosehip, linden, honey. Carbonated, too cold or too hot drinks should be avoided.