Want to know how you can boost your immunity naturally with superfoods?
Is there really such a thing as a superfood?
What are superfoods? Why should I eat them?
If you could prevent the common cold by eating specific foods, would you be interested?
Read on to learn how you can boost immunity naturally with top superfoods.
Sound a little hokey? If you’re like me, the idea of a superfood may leave you a bit skeptical. I get it. I was a bit skeptical too.
You may call it luck. All I know is that I incorporated these “superfoods into my diet several years ago and I can’t remember the last time I had a cold. It’s been years. “knock on wood”.
Is there really such a thing as a superfood?
The term “superfood” has been around for over 100 years. There is no scientific or medically proven definition for “superfood”.
However, there are foods that are extremely high in nutrition and offer a multitude of health benefits. For lack of a better term to distinguish these foods for the run of the mill processed foods, I’ll use the term “superfoods.”
What makes some foods "super" at boosting immunity?
No-one wants to be slowed down by a cold, right? I sure don’t.
There are specific vitamins and minerals that are needed to keep our immune systems strong and healthy. These foods are at the top of my superfood list and are high in Vitamins C, E, A, D, Folate, Iron, Selenium and Zinc
I want to be very clear.
For overall health, I recommend incorporating these superfoods into your diet. However, this is not an all-inclusive list of every healthy food. There are far too many to list.
The best way to get all the nutrients your body needs is through eating a variety of healthy foods.
One serving of any superfood will not make your cold go away nor will it prevent you from getting a cold.
My goal and hopefully yours too, is to keep from getting a cold in the first place. To do this, you need to incorporate a variety of immunity boosting superfoods into your daily diet.
What are the top immunity boosting superfoods?
Boost Immunity Naturally with Top Superfoods - Citrus
Mom probably didn't know it as a superfood...
How many times growing up did your Mom tell you to drink your orange juice? Yep, once again Mom was right.
Citrus fruits are loaded with Vitamin C, which is thought to increase white blood cells and key to fighting infections. Most popular citrus fruits are grapefruit, oranges, tangerines. lemons and limes.
Boost Immunity Naturally with Top Superfoods - Red Bell Peppers
When you think of Vitamin C, do you immediately think of oranges? Well, I did. So, I was surprised when I learned that red bell peppers have twice as much vitamin C as an orange.
That was enough to get me to start eating red bell peppers. I say start because I never liked any vegetables growing up and basically refused to even try them. After learning about their Vitamin C and having come off a year of having a cold more than I didn’t, what did I have to lose? Now, I eat them nearly every single day! And, I have not had a cold since. Coincidental? Maybe, but I’m not going to stop eating them to find out.
Boost Immunity Naturally with Top Superfoods - Brocolli
Broccoli has so much to offer – vitamins A, C and E as well as antioxidants and fiber. The secret to broccoli is to protect the nutrients by not overcooking it and even better – eat it raw!
This is another vegetable that I refused to even try until well into my adult life. I am not a huge fan of it cooked, but love it raw in my salad.
Boost Immunity Naturally with Top Superfoods - Spinach
or Kale, for that matter. I personally prefer spinach. Can’t really beat any leafy green vegetable though.
Not only is spinach loaded with vitamins A and C, and Folic acid that aid in keeping your immune system healthy, there is research to indicate that spinach may also help with other health concerns.
Several studies have shown that the zeaxanthin and lutein found in spinach may prevent macular degeneration and cataracts, which are major causes of blindness.
Other studies have shown that spinach may be responsible, at least in part, to slowing down cancer growth.
Boost Immunity Naturally with Top Superfoods - Kiwi
Kiwi is sweet and tangy and packed with Vitamin C.
Approximately 2 medium kiwis are packed with 273% of your daily recommended Vitamin C. As previously mentioned, Vitamin C is essential for boosting your immune system and reducing the likelihood of a cold.
If you’ve ever had kiwi, you know it can take a couple of minutes to peel and be a bit messy. An easier way to eat kiwi is just cut in half and scoop it out with a spoon.