Even though winter is coming to a close, the flu is still among us! As we all know the novel Corona virus (COVID-19) is now active in the United States, and we would like to bring awareness to you on how to prevent yourself from becoming susceptible! We are not saying these are miracle cures, BUT we believe that health and immunity starts in your gut! So the best way to help prevent getting sick is building up immunity by eating the right foods. (And washing your hands, A LOT!)
Food is one of the best ways to build a strong immune system, so eating foods that are high in vitamin C is a great start because they increase our white blood cells. White blood cells help fight off infections, bacteria and germs that invade the body. We are sharing some of our favorite three foods that you can add to your diet to boost your immune system!
CITRUS
First on our list is citrus fruits. Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, clementines, lemons and limes are all high in vitamin C. There are many ways to work Vitamin C into your diet, for us, being that healthy meal delivery is our expertise, we add tangerines to our seasonal fruit cups with our breakfast meals. We also find asian flavors pair great with citrus, and sneak a lot of oranges and tangerines into tasty eastern meals. By adding any of these citrus fruits to your diet, your body will increase its white blood cell count. Did you know we also offer cold-pressed juices that are JAM-PACKED with vitamin C? Vitamin C is known (by mothers and doctors alike) for being a favorite to “treat” colds and flus. This is because those who consume more vitamin C are known to have a shorter span for sickness. Not to mention, it tastes delicious!
RED PEPPERS
Next on the list are red bell peppers. This might be a shocker to you, but red bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C than citrus fruits! Makes you wonder why we don’t drink red pepper juice instead of OJ with our pancakes! (Okay, maybe not) BUT, they are also a rich source of beta carotene. Eating red bell peppers provides so many valuable vitamins and nutrients. Did we mention that they are more beneficial when you eat them raw? Try making a homemade hummus or guacamole dip to enjoy the experience in eating raw bell peppers. If you don’t have the time to make any of these recipes, we have a tasty homemade red bell pepper hummus dip that you can add on to your meal plan as a snack!
GARLIC
The third food that will boost your immune system is garlic. Garlic is magic! Not just because it is known for keeping away vampires, but garlic is one of the best foods to eat in general because it is extremely high in allicin which is a compound that contains sulfur. The sulphur containing compounds are thought to give garlic its medicinal properties. These properties boost your disease-fighting response rate, which essentially boosts your immune system. If you’re tough enough and can endure the taste of garlic, try eating a raw clove of garlic a day! We know, we know, this is A LOT to ask… if you can’t palate a whole raw clove, work yourself up to it! Try blending it into a smoothie, or of course throw it in your cooking. Garlic is a huge staple for us here at Catered Fit. Our meals often include garlic as a way to dial up the flavor and nutrient value of a meal.
These three foods just scratch the surface of the best foods that will boost your immune system. If you’re not fond of any of these foods that were listed, take a look at this infographic we made that lists a few more varieties of foods that you can start to implement into your diet more.