By Taras Makarenko, certified Nutritionist at Hong Kong Sports Clinic
Our immune system is responsible for protecting us from harmful pathogens and diseases. While genetics and environmental factors play a role in how our immune system functions, research has shown that our diet and lifestyle can also significantly impact our immune health. In this article, we will explore the link between diet and immunity and highlight some key foods that can boost or calm our immune system.
The Science of Immunology and Diet
Immunology is the branch of science that studies the immune system and how it functions. Modern immunology research has shown that certain foods can affect our immunity by activating or calming our immune cells. For example, chicken soup, a traditional remedy for colds and flu, contains bioactive compounds that can modify the inflammatory reaction of our immune system, leading to less inflammation and fewer symptoms.
Similarly, cycles of fasting have been shown to stimulate the regeneration of fresh new immune cells that are ready to fight infections. On the other hand, weakened immune conditions, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes and obesity, can make individuals more susceptible to infection and impair the immune response by creating a chronic low-grade state of inflammation in the body.
Immune-Boosting Foods
Several foods have been shown to stimulate the immune system and promote immune health.
- Mushrooms, such as white button, shiitake, maitake, enoki, chanterelle, and oyster mushrooms, contain beta-glucan, an immune-stimulating dietary fiber that can activate immune defenses.
- Aged garlic, which contains potent bioactives, such as apigenin, has been shown to reduce cold and flu symptoms and missed days of work in individuals who consume it regularly.
- Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphanes, which can activate the immune system and improve the ability of immune cells to detect and destroy cancer cells.
- Extra-virgin olive oil contains bioactives, such as hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal, and oleic acid, that can enhance the immune system and reduce the body’s reaction to allergens.
- Ellagic acid, found in foods like chestnuts, blackberries, black raspberries, walnuts, and pomegranate, can assist immune cells by improving their ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.
- Fruit juices, such as cranberry juice and concord grape juice, can also activate the immune system. Cranberry juice has been shown to have a beneficial effect on gamma delta T cells, a special type of immune T cell, and increase the production of interferon-gamma, a chemical signal that amps up the immune response against infection. Concord grape juice contains bioactives, such as anthocyanins, procyanidins, and hydroxycinnamic acid, that influence T cells and activate the immune system. Remember that juices, even without added sugar, contain a lot of natural sugar, so keep the amount reasonable and treat it more like a dessert than a supplement.
- Pacific oysters, which are rich in proteins that can boost immunity and have anti-inflammatory benefits, and licorice root, which has been traditionally used to treat stomach and respiratory ailments and has now been discovered to boost immunity, are also beneficial for our immune health.
Immune-Calming Foods
Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions can be relieved by consuming foods that reduce inflammation. Many bioactives found in foods can achieve this by calming inflammatory immune cells.
For example, green tea has been shown to calm an overactive immune system and prevent the symptoms and organ damage of lupus.
Additionally, prebiotic foods, such as those high in fiber, can feed healthy gut bacteria, which can help the microbiome produce its own anti-inflammatory metabolites, such as butyrate, that can slow down overly active immune cells. Conversely, a diet high in protein from meat or fish has been associated with an increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease, while a high intake of sugar and soft drinks in people who also have low vegetable intake has been associated with a higher risk of ulcerative colitis.
Vitamin C has been shown to affect the immune system in multiple ways and can be found in foods such as broccoli, cherry tomatoes, grapefruit, guava, oranges, and strawberries.
Conclusion
Diet and lifestyle play a crucial role in maintaining our immune health. Certain foods, such as mushrooms, aged garlic, broccoli sprouts, extra-virgin olive oil, and fruit juices, can stimulate the immune system and promote immune health, while others, such as green tea and prebiotic foods, can calm inflammation and autoimmune conditions. By consuming a balanced and varied diet that includes key immune-boosting and calming foods, we can activate our immune command center and defend our health from both external and internal threats.
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