It’s never a bad idea to have a go-to recipe that can help you naturally boost your immune system. Whether you are in the heart of flu season, fighting off a cold, or just want to increase immune function, you can never go wrong when you supply the body with foods that contain anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
Why Not Just Use Conventional Medicine?
Sometimes, conventional medication can do more harm than good. Additionally, over-the-counter cold and flu medications don’t always work for everyone. When you turn to natural ingredients that have immune-boosting properties, your body can process them more easily and use them quickly. Natural foods are always better than their synthetic counterparts.
How do you know which foods are the best for boosting immunity? Well, lucky for you, we’ve done the legwork so that you don’t have put on your detective cap and search the world for ingredients. And their benefits are all listed below.
Ginger
Ginger is a commonly used spice that adds unique flavor, but the health properties of the ginger rhizome have been extensively studied. It has a rich phytochemistry and has the potential to provide relief for a variety of disorders, including hypertension, vomiting, digestive troubles, mellitus, and certain cancers. The antioxidant compounds in ginger have been known to inhibit inflammatory cytokine production and reduce allergic reactions. Finally, antibacterial properties have been known to support immune health and soothe upset stomaches.
Lemon
Everyone knows that lemons are excellent sources of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that boosts immune health. Vitamin C enhances what are known as natural killer cells, which work to eliminate infection and provide antimicrobial support. Vitamin C assists lymphocytes, the body’s helper cells, and it works to maintain cell integrity.
Garlic
Garlic has been used in medicinal remedies for centuries, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and enhance immune function. Garlic contains allin, which turns into allicin when it is crushed or chewed. Allicin is the active ingredient in garlic, but it converts to sulfur-containing compounds that are thought to be responsible for garlic’s medicinal properties. These compounds work to boost the disease-fighting response of white blood cells upon encountering viruses.
Immune-Boosting Tonic
You can take one or two teaspoons of this tonic per day as a general recommendation. If you are fighting a cold or flu, it is recommended to consume one teaspoon every three to four hours.
Ingredients:
- 2 small lemons, seeded and cut into chunks
- ½ cup fresh ginger root, peeled and cut into chunks
- ½ cup garlic cloves, peeled
- ½ cup organic raw honey
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until you have a thick paste.
- This paste contains both the juices and fibers of the ingredients, making this tonic even more beneficial for your gut microbiome.
- Store this in an airtight jar in the fridge. Consume with a few sips of water to wash it down.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
