Hi Friends,
We have been feeling inundated with information lately. Are you feeling it too? People and media are constantly spewing information and opinions on the current events of the Corona virus. It can be completely overwhelming to go on a social meida platform or even just turn on the news and be faced with so many conflicting opinions on the topic and frankly it's frustrating We have been feeling this and feeling overwhelmed by the constant conflict. Together we were brainstorming things we could do and things we could have control over and a big one is giving our bodies what they need to make sure our/our families immune systems are functioning as best they can. So we set to research which foods/nutrients that we would like to make sure we're incorporating into our daily diets along with moving our bodies to boost our immune systems. We wanted to share that information with you. These are foods that are easily accessible and a lot of them cross over from our brain food post. So it's a win win!
A simple thing to do is to make sure you are getting enough sleep, exercise and minimizing the amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates/processed foods that you are eating. Starting with those basics steps will do wonders. Now we're not suggesting that you completely cut these things out, because we are realists and this is a time of stress and family togetherness and let's face it there will be treats. But we are suggesting that we limit them. Keep it to once or twice a week to give your immunte sytem the benenfit of all of that healthy food.
Ok, so here are some excellent immune boosting foods that you are probably already incorporating into your diet.
Citrus Fruits:
Citrus fruits are not the fruits highest in vitamin c but they are a great source and if your kids love citrus it's a great way to get a bit of added vitamin c in their diet each day. (Amount of vitamin C in an orange)
Citrus Fruits Include:
Lemon
Lime
Oranges
Tangerines
Grapefruit
Clementines
There are several vegetables, spices and leafy greens that pack a bigger punch in the vitamin c category and also have other vitiamins and nutrients that are beneficial to the body.
Red bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin c having three times as much as an orange. Red bell peppers also have beta carotine, which helps your skin and eyes! (Bell Bepper Nutrition Facts)
Garlic even my pickier eater loves it when foods are flavored with garlic. There are certain compounds found in garlic that help boost the immune system, in fact there have been compelling studies done that show garlic can reduce the liklihood of getting sick to begin with. Garlic is a super food we love to cook with.
Ginger can be a little tricky to get some kids to eat. I have a couple recipes that I love to make that call for ginger. This sweet potato curry is a huge hit at our houses and it is full of immune boosting foods. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and it is suggested that those properties can help give your immune system a boost.
Turmeric is another food that has excellent anti-inflammatory properties which help your immune system work a little better. Studies have shown turmeric to be anti viral as well.
Green Tea has many health benefits, One of them being that it is a great source of L-theanine. Research shows that L-theanine can have a postive effect on the immune system.
Spinach is our last super star superfood today! Spinach is loaded with vitamin C and anti-oxidants that
are shown to increase our ability to fight disease. Spinach is one of those foods we should try to eat every single day, it's that healthy!
Our biggest take away from the research we've done is, eat a variety. Eat colorful foods. Eat fresh foods as much as possible and don't underestimate the power of a spice! All of these foods can help us build strong immune systems as well as healthy and vibrant bodies that can thrive.
Wishing you health today, what are some of your favorite ways to incorporate immune boosting foods into your daily diet?
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