Diet - Immunity Stimulating Foods

Immune system is a complex interaction among cells in many parts of the body. They all co-ordinate to protect the body from foreign invaders. The immune system is not located in any one organ system or part of the body. The brain, the blood, the liver, the bone marrow, the lymph system, the spleen, the thymus, the skin, and some endocrine.

A well functioning immune system is of great importance is the maintenance of good health. It can save a person from many health problems ranging from minor infections to cancer. The genetic makeup of a person greatly influences immune system. Environmental factors also exercise a lot of influence on it.

Diet is the most important factor in building up immunity. Foods contain vitamins, minerals and other important elements that can broadly stimulate immune functioning. This, in turn, will increase body resistance to various viral and bacterial infections, as well as cancerous growths that flourish or die according to the operation of immune mechanism.

FOODS THAT BUILD UP BODY RESISTANCE

Carrot, Curd or Yoghurt, Fruits and Vegetables, Garlic, Low-Fat Foods, Mushroom and Zinc Rich Foods.

Carrot

A carrot, as one of the richest sources of antioxidant beta-carotene, is a powerful immunity stimulating food. It strengthens immune defences against both bacterial and viral infections, as well as cancer. It one study of 60 percent older men and women, average age 56, beta-carotene increased the percentage of specific infection-fighting immune cells, such as natural killer cells and activated lymphocytes and T-helper cells. This study was conducted by Dr. Ronald R. Watson, Ph.D., at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It showed the more beta-carotene, the greater the increase in protective immune cells. For instance, both 30mg and 60mg of daily beta-carotene, for two months improved immune cells, but the bigger dose was more powerful. Two months after the beta-carotene was stopped, the immune cells came down to pre-experiment levels. Such doses are comparable to eating five to ten carrots a day. Thus, a diet high in carotene-rich foods, such as carrots, could provide these immune-stimulating doses of beta-carotene. Other food rich in carotene, besides carrot, are mangoes, papaya, orange, melon, green leafy vegetables, pumpkin, whole milk, curds and butter.

Curd or Yoghurt

Curd or Yoghurt is an extremely valuable immunity stimulating food. It has been regarded as an age old fighter of disease and powerful protector against viruses, infections and tumour cells. Eating curd stimulates at least two vital components of immunity, namely nature killer cells and gamma interferon. Dr. Joseph Scimeca, Ph.D., nutrition researcher at Kraft General Food Inc., explains that natural killer cells circulating in the body detect tumour cells, then seeks out the destroy. Natural killer cells are one of the best defences against tumour cells and viruses, he says. Even Yoghurt that he has been heated to kill 95 per cent of the bacterial cultures still activates nature killer cells; this was discovered by Dr. Scimeca.

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