IMMUNITY DIET- VITAMINS AND MINERALS -STRONG AND HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM – UrbanHealing

GREAT NUTRITION BUILDS A STRONG IMMUNE RESPONSE

Medical professionals are learning one of the best ways to support the immune system and reduce inflammation is not just via the medicine cabinet but via the diet. Many experimental studies show that components of food can have anti-inflammatory and immune supporting effects. Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, PhD explains that diet is a place where we can all support a healthy immune response by making food choices that calm inflammation while boosting the immune system.

FOODS TO INCREASE:

• Mushrooms and oats contain the plant chemicals beta-glucans which are immune modulators. (1,2)

• Fresh ginger contains antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds. (3,4,5)

• Garlic contains the compound allicin that has been shown to be antimicrobial (6,7).

• Brazil nuts are a source of selenium which is needed for a optimal immune system. (8,9)

• Adequate protein is important for immune health. The mineral zinc is found in protein rich foods and is vital for a healthy immune system and is a nutrient depleted in viral infection. (10,11)

• Onions, apples and cocoa powder all contain quercetin, which is a potent immune supporting bioflavonoid. (12,13)

• Berries, green tea, black tea, herbal tea and cocoa all contain polyphenols. These phyto-chemicals help a normal inflammatory response and may be immune boosting.(14,15)

• Fermented vegetables and probiotic-containing foods help support a healthy microbiome which in turn is shown to help provide immune modulation. (16,17)

• Brightly colored vegetables and fruits have been shown in clinical research to boost immunity. Suggested intake is between 5 to 10 servings per day. (18)

• Omega 3 oils found in fish, hempseed and chia seed have been shown to modulate the immune system, reducing inflammation. (19, 20)

FOODS TO REDUCE OR AVOID:

Foods that may reduce immunity and increase inflammation are best eaten in moderation or avoided.

• Inflammatory oils including animal fats, and refined oils high in omega six. Examples of these oils to avoid include soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, rapeseed oil, trans fats and saturated fats. (21,22)

• Refined carbohydrates are best avoided these include white flour, simple sugars like cane sugar or corn syrup and concentrated fruit juices. (23,24)

By Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart, PhD
Nutritionist (BSc) and Specialist in Health Psychology (PhD)
Member of CThA and BAPEN
Contact

1: Henao SLD, Urrego SA, Cano AM, Higuita EA. Randomized Clinical Trial for the Evaluation of Immune Modulation by Yogurt Enriched with β-Glucans from Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), in Children from Medellin, Colombia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2018;20(8):705-716. doi: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2018026986. PMID: 30317947.

2: Akramiene D, Kondrotas A, Didziapetriene J, Kevelaitis E. Effects of beta-glucans on the immune system. Medicina (Kaunas). 2007;43(8):597-606. PMID: 17895634.

3: Lin LL, Shan JJ, Xie T, et al. Application of Traditional Chinese Medical Herbs in Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:6082729. doi:10.1155/2016/6082729

4: Rasool A, Khan MU, Ali MA, Anjum AA, Ahmed I, Aslam A, Mustafa G, Masood S, Ali MA, Nawaz M. Anti-avian influenza virus H9N2 activity of aqueous extracts of Zingiber officinalis (Ginger) and Allium sativum (Garlic) in chick embryos. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017 Jul;30(4):1341-1344. PMID: 29039335.

5: Wang S, Zhang C, Yang G, Yang Y. Biological properties of 6-gingerol: a brief review. Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Jul;9(7):1027-30. PMID: 25230520.

6: Borlinghaus J, Albrecht F, Gruhlke MC, Nwachukwu ID, Slusarenko AJ. Allicin: chemistry and biological properties. Molecules. 2014 Aug 19;19(8):12591-618. doi: 10.3390/molecules190812591. PMID: 25153873; PMCID: PMC6271412.

7: Ankri S, Mirelman D. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. Microbes Infect. 1999 Feb;1(2):125-9. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(99)80003-3. PMID: 10594976.

8: Avery JC, Hoffmann PR. Selenium, Selenoproteins, and Immunity. Nutrients. 2018;10(9):1203. Published 2018 Sep 1. doi:10.3390/nu10091203

9: Steinbrenner H, Al-Quraishy S, Dkhil MA, Wunderlich F, Sies H. Dietary selenium in adjuvant therapy of viral and bacterial infections. Adv Nutr. 2015;6(1):73-82. Published 2015 Jan 15. doi:10.3945/an.114.007575

10: Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Zinc as a Gatekeeper of Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 25;9(12):1286. doi: 10.3390/nu9121286. PMID: 29186856; PMCID: PMC5748737.

11: Gammoh NZ, Rink L. Zinc in Infection and Inflammation. Nutrients. 2017 Jun 17;9(6):624. doi: 10.3390/nu9060624. PMID: 28629136; PMCID: PMC5490603.