As we slowly wave goodbye to the cold season, we are reminded to still monitor the demands our bodies have in response to the changing seasons and the current global health state. It is no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of nurturing a strong immune system and eating nutrient-rich food as part of a balanced diet is one of the ways to achieve this.
Some of these foods have the ability to give the body an antioxidant boost. This includes several fruits, vegetables and grains such as oats, sorghum, ginger, cinnamon and broccoli, which can all be easily worked into your favourite meals. Choosing what you eat each day is important as having a balanced diet plays an important role in maintaining good heart health, increasing metabolism, improving digestion, and producing higher levels of energy.
With that in mind, here are 5 foods to eat to support the immune system and their overall benefits:
1. Oats
Oats is a wholegrain powerhouse with exceptional nutritional value. This cereal grain is always great to include in your diet because it fuels up the metabolism, helping with physical and mental wellbeing. That is not all. Oats also play an important role in protecting the heart because they naturally contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre that helps lower blood cholesterol levels to keep you and your heart healthy. If pressed for time, something like Jungle Instant Oats is your best buy for an easy breakfast. It’s quick to make, but offers all the goodness of a bowl of regular cooking oats.
2. Ginger
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Apart from its great scent, ginger is said to have thermogenic properties that can help keep you warm and stimulate your metabolism. Ginger is also great for boosting the immune system, so toss some into your next cup of tea to benefit from its natural role in fighting off common viruses. Ginger is also effective when it comes to improving digestion.
3. Cinnamon
Loaded with antioxidants, cinnamon is a spice that you can easily add to baked delights or creamy hot breakfasts. Not only is it super tasty, but it also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, helping fight off common colds and kill off bacteria. There are many ways to get a healthy serving of cinnamon into your daily diet — a good start would be to sprinkle some over a warm bowl oats.
4. Sorghum
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Another whole grain on the list is sorghum. Sorghum is also packed with antioxidants which have proven to be effective at reducing some forms of inflammation. The super grain is also high in protein and can be found in ready-to-eat cereals such as Jungle Plus while others choose to serve it directly like rice or quinoa. Adding sorghum to your diet can do wonders for your digestive system since it contains fibre — the ultimate body regulator.
5. Broccoli
Coming in with a surprising source of vitamin C is broccoli. Just one cup has more than 100% of your daily needs of vitamin C which is great for boosting the body’s immunity and improving blood flow, which helps maintain a good body temperature. Broccoli can be easily enjoyed as a side dish for lunch or added to soup for a hearty evening dinner.
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