Everyone knows that a person’s health mainly depends on the body’s own immunity. People with strong immunity will be less likely to get sick, while people with low immunity can be said to be plagued by all kinds of diseases. So, how to improve immunity and avoid common diseases such as colds through diet? Huakang Orthopedics Hospital has collected nine types of foods that provide immunity for everyone: yogurt, sweet potatoes, tea, chicken soup, beef, mushrooms, fish and shellfish, garlic, and oats.
1. Yogurt: Probiotics protect the intestines. Yogurt contains probiotics, which protect the intestines and prevent the development of disease-causing bacteria. In addition, the lactic acid bacteria contained in some yogurt can promote the growth of white blood cells in the blood.
2. Sweet potato: Enhance skin resistance. The skin is also a member of the human immune system and is the body's first barrier against external aggressions such as bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A plays an important role in the process of connecting skin tissue. The best way to supplement vitamin A is to obtain beta carotene from food. Sweet potatoes are the fastest way to obtain this nutrient. They are rich in beta carotene and are low in calories.
3. Tea: fights bacteria and prevents influenza. Immunologists at Harvard University have found that people who drink five cups of black tea a day for two weeks will produce a large amount of anti-viral interferon in their bodies. The content is 10 times that of people who do not drink tea. This protein that can fight infections can effectively help The body fights off the flu, while also mitigating symptoms of food poisoning, wound infections, athlete's foot, and even tuberculosis and malaria. Of course, drinking green tea has the same effect.
4. Chicken soup: delicious cold medicine. The cysteine ??released by chicken during cooking is very similar to acetylcysteine, a drug used to treat bronchitis. Salty chicken soup can reduce the symptoms of phlegm because it is similar to the ingredients in cough medicine. Adding some onions and garlic when simmering chicken soup can make the effect more obvious.
5. Beef: Supplement zinc to enhance immunity. Zinc is very important in the diet. It can promote the growth of white blood cells and thus help the body protect against harmful substances such as viruses and bacteria. Even mild zinc deficiency can increase the risk of infectious diseases. Beef is an important source of zinc for the human body, so in winter, appropriate beef supplements can not only resist cold but also prevent influenza.
6. Mushrooms: Promote white blood cells to fight infection. Mushrooms have long been used as a food to boost immunity. Now, researchers have found a reason to do so: Eating mushrooms boosts the production and activity of white blood cells, making them more defensive.
7. Fish and shellfish: Supplement selenium to prevent viruses. British experts have pointed out that supplementing enough selenium can increase the amount of immune proteins, thereby helping to clean up influenza viruses in the body. Selenium mainly comes from seafood such as oysters, lobsters, crabs and clams. Omega-3 in fish such as Atlantic salmon can help the blood produce a large number of flu-fighting cells and also help improve the body's immunity.
8. Garlic: Allicin fights infections and bacteria. Experimental results by British researchers show that eating garlic can reduce the chance of catching a cold by 2/3. People who chew garlic regularly also have a significantly lower chance of colon and stomach cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to eat two cloves of garlic raw every day and add some minced garlic when cooking dishes.
9. Oats and barley: healthy fiber and antioxidant. Both oats and barley contain beta glucan, a fiber that has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Eating oats and barley can enhance immunity, speed up wound healing, and help antibiotics work better.