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Cold And Flu Season Is Coming! Boost Your Body's Defenses

Posted On: Jun 11, 2024

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Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Immune System from Cold and Flu

Monsoon is around the corner and it is going to bring the happiest time of the year! There will be rainfall, cold evenings and mornings, market strolls for hot and steamy street food, long drives, and lots of good things! But the season will also bring humidity, leading to faster bacteria transfer from one person to another and an increase in cold and flu cases. In this blog, we have compiled some of the best ways to boost your immunity for the upcoming season and enjoy the most of it.

  1. Increase Your Consumption of Vitamin C: Vitamin C is the finest immune system builder, protecting you from illnesses during the rainy season. By improving the ability of immune cells to eliminate dangerous germs, it fortifies your immune system. Vitamin C is also helpful in managing and preventing a number of respiratory conditions, including the common cold symptoms. Make sure you get adequate vitamin C from food or supplements. Natural sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes, as well as vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes, and red bell peppers.

  2. Continue eating a Balanced Diet: You can be sure that your body is getting the vital nutrients it needs to boost the immune system by eating a balanced diet. Vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals found in fruits and vegetables help shield your body from illnesses. You can get energy and amino acids by combining them with whole grains and proteins. Amino acids are essential for immunological function.

  3. Remain Hydrated: Maintaining the appropriate operation of the body's organs, particularly the immune system, depends on drinking adequate water. Water helps the body's circulation of nutrients and eliminates pollutants. Therefore, one of the greatest strategies or natural remedies for common cold to strengthen your immunity during the monsoon season is to monitor how much water you consume.

  4. Make time to Sleep: A restful night's sleep supports immunity and general wellness. Your body heals and regenerates itself as you sleep. This process is hampered by sleep deprivation, which also weakens the immune system and raises the risk of infection. For this reason, you need to make sure you get enough sleep.

  5. Boost Probiotic Intake: Probiotics have long been known to have the ability to strengthen immunity via a variety of processes. They may strengthen the gut lining, promote the generation of immune cells, and prevent harmful bacteria from proliferating in the digestive tract. One typical probiotic that you may include in your everyday diet is curd.

  6. Steer clear of Greasy and Spicy Foods: During the monsoon, foods that are spicy and greasy should be avoided since they might lead to inflammation and stomach problems. These meals have the potential to upset your digestive system and impair your immune system's capacity to protect the body from infections. The greatest way to boost immune system naturally is to limit your intake of hot and fatty foods.

  7. Eat the Seasonal Produce: Seasonal fruits that have just been harvested are bursting with elements that strengthen immunity, such as fibre, potassium, and vitamin A, which your body needs to fight off illnesses. One of the simplest methods to strengthen immunity during the monsoon is to eat seasonal fruits such as oranges, plums, cherries, papaya, pomegranates, pears, etc.

  8. Include foods High in Protein in your Diet: The body uses proteins to produce and repair many tissues, including immunological cells. They offer vital amino acids that promote a range of immune processes and aid in the fight against illnesses and infections. It is also beneficial to your immunity during the monsoon season to include foods high in protein, such as lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans, lentils, and nuts.

Must-have foods/Fruits/Vegetables in your Diet

  1. Broccoli: Packed with protein, fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, broccoli is a superfood that also happens to have a plethora of minerals, including potassium, selenium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
  2. Spinach: It is abundant in several vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Because spinach has high levels of magnesium, vitamin E, and the antioxidant beta-carotene, it boosts immunity by enhancing the body's ability to fight off infections.
  3. Watermelon: It may surprise you to learn that watermelon has a greater level of the antioxidant lycopene than other fruits and vegetables. In addition to lowering the risk of cancer and age-related macular degeneration, vitamins A, B, C, and lycopene aid in the battle against other chronic illnesses, such as heart disease.
  4. Pomegranates: Renowned for its numerous health advantages, pomegranate is considered to be among the healthiest fruits. Vitamins A, C, E, and folate are notably abundant in pomegranates. Numerous antioxidants with antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-cancer qualities may be found in pomegranates.
  5. Oranges: Vitamin C is widely recognised for its ability to boost immunity, and oranges contain a significant quantity of this vitamin. Other elements included in this citrus fruit, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, improve our general health.
  6. Garlic with Ginger: Herbs like garlic and ginger are very well-known for both their culinary and therapeutic qualities. Both have been used as cough and cold remedies. Numerous potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in ginger, including zingerone, sesquiterpenes, and gingerols, can strengthen your immune system.
  7. Eggs: Nutrient-rich egg yolks can strengthen your immune system. Proteins and vitamin D found in eggs can protect you from colds and coughs.
  8. Sweet Potato: Egg-topped sweet potato pancakes are a kid's favourite. It is really quite advantageous since sweet potatoes have a high beta-carotene content, which raises white blood cells and, in turn, boosts immunity.
  9. Turmeric: Since ancient times, traditional medicine has employed turmeric, a spice with inherent anti-inflammatory properties. It has an ingredient called curcumin, which strengthens our immune system. It might be advantageous to use a small amount of turmeric in your smoothies or overnight-soaked oats.

 

All these foods and modifications in your lifestyle can help you strengthen your immunity. Still, if you are caught by a cold and flu, visit Manipal Hospitals and get diagnosed and treated by our expert doctors in Pune. We also invite you to bookmark our blog page to read the latest healthcare blogs shared by our doctors.

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