Do you ever feel a little down when the seasons change? You may feel tired and run down, which can make you more susceptible to getting sick. This is because your immune system it actually keeps working while you sleep, making proteins that are needed when your immune system has to kick into gear to protect you from bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing invaders. When you’re sleep deprived, you may make fewer of these protective proteins, depending on the Mayo Clinic.
If you have noticed that your immune system Turning off, there are ways to get your health back. Eating a healthy diet that contains plenty of nutrients is one of the ways you can ensure that your body fights off any foreign invaders that try to enter your body and make you sick. fruits they are one of the healthy food choices you can make when working on immune cell growth and function. According to registered dietitian Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CEO of The NY Nutrition Group and author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan, the best fruit to eat for a stronger immune system is a kiwi.
“Although eating just one specific food doesn’t have the power to completely eliminate disease, your overall diet and eating habits can help strengthen your immune system and improve recovery time after illness or infection,” explains Moskovitz. “You may have heard that ‘eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ But there are many other fruits that deserve the spotlight.”
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Moskovitz explains that fruits, particularly high in vitamin C and other antioxidants can help support your immune system. Kiwi is the best option when it comes to this antioxidant vitamin.
“Kiwifruit is one of the main sources of vitamin C,” says Moskovitz. In fact, one 1 medium kiwi contains 71% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C, almost as much as consuming a whole medium-sized orange.
Moskovitz says that vitamin C It has long been associated with promoting a strong and healthy immune system. This is due to its ability to support various cellular functions, decrease inflammation, and protect against oxidative stress.
There is some evidence to support a direct link between consuming kiwi and boosting your immune system. A study published in British Journal of Nutrition, which received funding from kiwifruit marketer Zespri, suggests that golden kiwifruit has helped reduce both the severity and duration of certain upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in healthy older adults. The fruit has also increased plasma vitamin C concentration, which is the total content of vitamin C in your body.
Overall, while kiwifruit can be a powerful fruit, it’s still important to eat a well-balanced diet to stay healthy. If you’re not a fan of kiwi, luckily there are plenty of other colorful fruit and vegetable options that the National Institutes of Health recommends to reach your daily value for vitamin C.
For example, a medium orange contains 78% of your daily value for vitamin C, while a half cup of cooked broccoli has 57%. You can also choose to eat a raw, sweet red bell pepper, which has 106% of your daily value.
“Ultimately, eating a variety of plant-based, antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds is the best practice for a better immune system,” says Moskovitz.
Kayla Garritano
Kayla Garritano is a staff writer for Eat This, Not That! She is a graduate of Hofstra University, where she majored in Journalism and double majored in Marketing and Creative Writing. Read more about Kayla
