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Fight Colds & Flu, Naturally
A healthy immune system is vital for maintaining overall health. In addition to protecting us from colds and flu, the immune system also wards off other diseases, fights food poisoning, and even keeps allergies in check. But when our immunity is compromised by a poor diet or an unhealthy lifestyle, it leaves us susceptible to colds and more serious infections. Nature’s most popular immune booster, vitamin C increases the production of white blood cells that fight off infections. C is widely available in supplement form, and about six servings of fruits and vegetables per day provide a protective amount of this vitamin. C-rich foods include berries, kiwi, citrus fruits, broccoli, leafy greens, peppers, and cauliflower. Sweet, juicy watermelon is actually packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A, notably through its concentration of beta-carotene. Papayas offer not only the luscious taste and sunlit color of the tropics, but are rich sources of antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids. Persimmon fruits contain as much vitamin C as oranges and tangerines, and their pulp does not have a sour taste. Vitamin E is also an important immune booster. It stimulates the production of natural killer cells that destroy germs and enhances the production of immune cells that produce antibodies to destroy bacteria. In foods, the most abundant sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils such as palm oil, sunflower, corn, soybean, and olive oil. Nuts, sunflower seeds, seabuckthorn berries, kiwi fruit, and wheat germ are also good sources. Other sources of vitamin E are whole grains, fish, peanut butter, goats milk, and green leafy vegetables. Fortified breakfast cereals are also an important source of vitamin E in the United States. Although originally extracted from wheat germ oil, most natural vitamin E supplements are now derived from vegetable oils, usually soybean oil. |
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