Here’s what to add to your diet to strengthen your body’s defenses.
Your immune system is a complex array of organs, tissues, and proteins that work together to fight off viruses and bacteria.
Science points to a few strategies that can help strengthen your body’s defenses against viruses.
Vitamin D can help regulate immune function.
Eggs also contain vitamin B12, which influences production of natural killer cells, your body’s first defense against pathogens.
This juicy fruit is rich with Vitamin C, which protects cells from oxidative stress.
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During oxidative stress, your cells produce particles that can rupture their walls, called free radicals.
Vitamin C has been shown to limit that damaging process.
Chickpeas, black beans, peas, and more: this group of foods is known for its vitamin A content, which keeps cells healthy.
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Legumes also contain zinc, a mineral, and antioxidant shown to mitigate the effects of oxidative stress.
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Studies show a healthy gut is linked to other benefits in the body — including a strong immune system.
Don’t underestimate the power of this tough root — it’s also linked to improved gut health.
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Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that can be just as good for the immune system as it can for the gut.
Yogurt, as well as other fermented foods, can be an excellent source of probiotics.
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Probiotics are living organisms that have a slew of positive effects on the body.
Namely, they improve microbiome health, and can in turn make your immune system better equipped to fight off invaders.
Last but not least are vegetables — which, time and time again, are shown to provide a whole host of health-boosting vitamins and minerals.
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Specifically in the case of your immune system, plants host molecules called polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties.
But that’s just the tip of the ... iceberg.