Build Your Immune System The Chinese Medicine Way.

The immune system is a fascinating mechanism. When foreign germs enter the body, it immediately activates its defenses and protects us from outside invasions. Unfortunately, sometimes our immune system doesn’t work as well as we would like.

The immune system can be negatively affected by stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and various environmental factors. Our chances of getting sick are greater when our immune system is weak. The immune system can be tonified, and it isn’t necessary to use over the counter or prescription drugs to make it happen. Instead, consider Chinese medicine nutrition to ensure that your body’s immune systems is functioning at it’s full capacity. It is important to consume the proper nutrients by eating the right foods.

Following are some of the best foods to help boost the immune system:

* Citrus fruits - Oranges, lemons and all other citrus are strong immune system boosters. They are good sources of vitamin C which helps boost the production of white blood cells and antibodies. 75 milligrams of vitamin C can be found in a medium sized orange.

* Carrots - Large amounts of beta carotene can be found in carrots. This phytonutrient helps out your immune system. It encourages the creation of infection fighting killer cells and T cells. Scientists have discovered that falcarinol, a compound in carrots, can aid in the prevention of cancer.

* Garlic - Garlic is excellent at battling just about any kind of infection. Herbal remedies often incorporate it. The immune system will be in optimal condition if you consume this just a few times throughout the week. Ensuring that the garlic is fresh and crushed completely will lead to the best results , and you will benefit the most from the infection-fighting elements it contains.

*Yogurt – The probiotic content of yogurt is high. Acidophilus bacteria, are found in yogurt and are beneficial to the proper functioning of the immune system. The body uses Acidophilus bacteria to maximize nutrients derived from food as well as to fight off harmful bacteria, yeast, and viruses. Bifidobacterium that is particularly beneficial for the aged, is another sort of bacteria in yogurt.

* Fatty Fish – Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in large amounts in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel. They promote the effectiveness of phagocytes, the bacteria eating white blood cells. You can enhance this effect by taking vitamin E.

Many illnesses and infections can be fought off without the use of drugs and antibiotics by our immune system, if we take care of it. Putting these foods into your diet is a smart way to begin.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Natural Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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