FIGHT INFECTIONS WITH DIET

Diet and the Immune System

 

The immune system is our body's protective network designed to fend off invasion by harmful substances, including bacteria, viruses, and harmful chemicals, and to act as a surveillance system against the development of cancer.
An impaired immune system weakens the body's ability to fend off infection and malignancy, infections like flu usually take advantage of the immune system's weakness to attack. In fact, many of the symptoms of the flu (such as achy muscles and joints, fever, and headache) are caused by the immune system's response to the infection. We all know how painful the flu season can be, well guess what...you can empower your body to fight such recurrent infections just by improving your diet and lifestyle.
The three areas that are most important in protecting and bolstering the immune system are diet and nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction. First, you can enrich your diet with antioxidants: Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals, found in foods and available as supplements, that remove harmful oxidants from the bloodstream. The typical American diet is often deficient in a variety of nutrients including calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C so second: you can make sure you are getting enough nutrients and micronutrients. Marginal nutrient deficiencies in the diet can also weaken the immune system.
You can further modify your diet by eating less saturated fat and animal protein (particularly red meat), by limiting dairy products (particularly those with fat), by modifying your use of oils and fats, and by eating more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
BE THE LAST MAN STANDING THIS FLU SEASON!!