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How do foods fight infection?
You've probably heard the phrase 'you are what you eat' and often associate it with weight loss and general health. However, when you're sick, food is key for ensuring you have nutrients, energy, and a strong immune function. While it may be tempting to stay in bed and eat comfort food, poor nutritional choices can slow down the recovery process and make some symptoms worse.
Fruits and vegetables
When considering which foods are best to fight infection, fruit and veg probably have the most impact as they contain a range of vitamins and minerals to help your immune system. Nutritionists consider variety to be beneficial as different fruit and vegetables contain unique proportions of minerals, vitamins, and micronutrients. Eating the 'rainbow' - lots of different coloured fruits - will help get all the variety needed into your body.
Vitamin C is important as it improves your body's ability to fight harmful germs while strengthening your defence against invading germs. Citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, and bell peppers are all excellent sources of vitamin C.
Vitamin A is also effective for improving immunity and can even protect against certain types of cancer. Beta carotene is the primary source of vitamin A in your diet, for which carrots are a great source. But any orange, yellow, or red vegetables are ideal for increasing your vitamin A levels.
https://patient.info/news-and-features/food-to-fight-infections
Libby Linford, registered Nutritional Therapist and founder of the Surrey Centre for Nutrition explains:
"The importance of fruit and vegetables cannot be underestimated when it comes to positive impacts on the immune system. Eating a variety of vegetables and some fruit supplies important fibres (prebiotics) to the beneficial bacteria, helping them to grow, flourish, and regulate immune activity. Fruit and veg also supply important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals required by the immune system such as vitamins A and C and minerals such as magnesium and zinc."
https://patient.info/news-and-features/food-to-fight-infections
Protein
Protein helps your body grow, repair, oxygenate, digest food, and regulate hormones. So it's safe to say it has an important job. Getting enough protein is a cornerstone of a balanced diet, especially when fighting infections. A lack of dietary protein can impact your immune system and weaken your defences against diseases by disrupting the production of T cells and antibodies.
Nuts and seeds
Nuts and seeds are a quick and easy way to improve your diet. They may be small, but they offer many benefits and are simple to add to your diet. Whether you snack on a handful or add them to your favourite meals - your immune system will benefit. Nuts and seeds are rich in minerals and fatty acids, nutrient-dense, and contain vitamin E - which is crucial for cell repair after infection.
https://patient.info/news-and-features/food-to-fight-infections
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