8 Surprising Foods that Boost Your Immune System

Have you ever poured yourself a glass of orange juice when you felt like you were getting sick? It has a reputation for fighting off sickness due to its vitamin C content. It turns out that eating a well-balanced diet can provide more vitamins and minerals than orange juice alone and may help your immune system. Experts agree a well-balanced diet is the best way to get your nutrients and stay healthy.

Try adding these 8 immune-boosting foods to your diet:

1. Button mushrooms – These provide minerals that can reduce your chances of getting a severe flu.
2. Oysters – Oysters contain zinc, which helps your body create white blood cells that fight sickness and heal wounds.
3. Low-fat yogurt – Yogurt with “live and active cultures” contain probiotics. These are a healthy kind of bacteria that live in your stomach and have been shown to play a part in the immune system.
4. Spinach – Spinach is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. It also contains folate, which helps your body grow new cells and repair DNA.
5. Sweet potato – Similar to carrots, sweet potatoes gives your body vitamin A, which bolster the immune system and may even slow down the aging process.
6. Broccoli – Broccoli is an immune system staple—it has vitamins A and C as well as antioxidants.
7. Garlic – Raw garlic can help fight bacteria, viruses and fungi. This can reduce your risk of skin infections.
8. Ginger – Ginger root is a great source of immune-boosting antioxidants. Plus, it can help alleviate nausea.

When it comes to getting vitamins and minerals, skip the supplements. A recent study found that taking supplements doesn’t beat a balanced diet. If you’re looking for other ways you can add nutrients to your plate and improve your diet, you can get nutritional counseling through telehealth services at no out-of-pocket cost to you.