As the temperature begins to cool and the hustle and bustle of fall sets in, we can all succumb to seasonal illness. Cold and Flu season may not be here yet, but we know that it is on its way!
We at Thrive wanted to give your immune system a little boost by giving you some ideas that you can incorporate into your diet to help you fight off germs.
Immune Boosting Foods:
Garlic
Adding garlic to your dishes not only enhances the flavours of your foods, but also allow your white-blood cells to flourish and increases the efficiency of antibody production. This means your body is able to fight off viruses more easily. Take out the little green root in the centre of each clove if you find garlic hard to digest and it should make it less potent.
Citrus
All forms of citrus - lemon, limes, grapefruit, oranges- are all high in Vitamin C. Increasing your Vitamin C intake enhances your immune efficiency, which is exactly what we need for this time of year. Try adding lemon to your morning glass of water. Not only do you instantly have flavoured water, you start off your day more hydration and with a bit of Vitamin C!
Turmeric
Have you been noticing this spice everywhere these days? It’s for good reason- turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, is good for your liver which helps eliminate waste through your body and might even be good for reducing fever. Try having Turmeric lattes (lovely with oat or nut milk and a but of honey) and enjoy warming curries as the temperature begins to drop. Your body will thank you!
Bell Peppers
These amazing guys have twice the amount of Vitamin C as citrus, and the added bonus of beta-carotene which is great for healthy skin!
Ginger
Ginger works in the same way as Vitamin C. It can also help if you are just starting a cold by relieving your sore throat. Feel a tingle in your throat? Boil some ginger and lemon to make a natural tea that soothes the throat and boosts your immune system. Add a bit of honey and you have a sure fire way of fighting those colds.
Dr. Kristin Heins
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