As I was saying - I woke up this evening with a sore throat, so sore I can't hardly swallow water. I had a flu last week and I think I'm not well yet.
It started when everyone in the office as if had this sneezing competition. Everyone is sneezing. And I am the person who really has a weak immune system. I mean, I need to avoid a person who are sneezing or coughing because the next day, I will be doing the same. I know it suck, it is really annoying and uncomfortable if you ask me.
It's all my fault really, I do not take vitamins. It's lame but when I have stock of it, I keep on missing it. I always forget to religiously take the pill after meal or on the prescribe time but the inconvenience it gives me when I had to endure those dreading flu, I think I have to be a good boy this time.
Ofcourse we can beat that crap to the ground, you know. All we need to do is eat the right food, foods that will help boost our immune system. Yes, because PREVENTION is better than CURE.
Uh by the way, speaking of flu - It's everywhere. My boss in the states caught one and actually lost her voice. A good news to some - yes, she can't yell, yipeee! Ahaha.
Here's the Power 9: Immune System booster.
1. Yogurt
The "live active cultures" or Probiotics found in yogurt are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs.
A specific probiotic, the Lactobacillus reuteri, helps stimulate the white blood cells and will give one a 33% fewer sick days.
Dosage: Two 6-ounce servings a day.
2. Oats and Barley
Contains beta-glucan, a type of fiber with anti-microbial and anti-oxidant capabalities. An animal to have taken this compound are less likely to contract influenza, herpes and even anthrax. To human, it boosts immunity, wound heals faster and work as antibiotics.
Dosage: Atleast one in your three daily servings of whole grains.
3. Garlic
Allicin the active ingredient of garlic, fights infection and bacteria. Research shows those garlic takers are two-third less likely to catch cold. And for those garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves a week are 30% lower rate of colorectal cancer and 50% of stomach cancer.
Dosage: Two raw cloves a day and add crushed garlic to your cooking several times a week.
4. Tea
Drinking 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood. L-theanine, the amino acid responsible to boost immune system is abundant both in black and green tea.
Dosage: Several cups daily. To get up to five times more anti-oxidants from your teah bags, bob them up and down while you brew.
5. Chicken Soup
Cysteine the amino acid released from chicken during cooking blocked the migration of inflamatory white cells. Chemically resembles to drug acetylcysteine to cure bronchitis.
The soup's salty broth keeps mucus thin in the same way cough medicines do, adding some spices such as garlic and onion, increase soup's immune-boosting power.
Dosage: Have bowl when feeling crummy.
6. Fish
Selenium helps white blood cells produce cytokines - a protein that helps clear flu viruses out of the body, is plentiful in shellfish like oysters, lobsters, crabs, and clams.
Salmon, mackerel and herring are rich in omega-3 fats, which reduce inflammation and increasing airflow and protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.
Dosage: Two servings a week (unless you're pregnant or planning to be).
7. Beef
Rich in Zinc, to add this to your diet helps the development of white blood cells, an intrepid immune system cells that recognize and destroy invading bacteria and viruses.
Dosage: 3-ounce of lean beef provides about 30% of Daily Value (DV) for zinc. That's often enough to make the difference between deficient and sufficient.
8. Sweet Potato
You may not think as part of your immune system. But this crucial organ, covering an impressive 16 sq ft, serves as a first-line fortress against bacteria, viruses and other undersirables.
To stay strong and healthy it needs Vitamin A. Plays an important role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of skin. Sweet potatoes are rich source of beta-carotene.
Dosage: A half-cup serving, which delivers only 170 calories but 40% of the DV of vitamin A (beta-carotene).
9. Mushrooms
Mushrooms has been a century old authority when it comes to immune system boosting. It increases the production and activity of white blood cells making them more aggressive. You can turn to mushroom when you have infection
Dosage: Atleast 1/4 ounce to an ounce a few times a day from maximum immune benefits. Add a handful to pasta sauce, or sautee with a little oil and add to eggs.
So that's it, the 9-Power to your healthy immune system. And the good news these foods don't taste bad. Put these in your diet already.
Nuff said.