copied from:
http://cliniconomy.com/immune-boosting-foods/

The immune system is like a country’s defense, when it
is weak another country or a terrorist group can easily
over run the country which in this case is your body.
Everybody wants to be strong, kicking really hard even
during difficult health conditions around. To keep your
body well on guard and highly secured and still ply along
your normal daily routine you have to adopt this immune
boosting foods into your diet.

Yogurt:
The first on the list of our immune boosting foods is the
yogurt you and i know. Probiotics, or the “live active
cultures” found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep
the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing
germs. Although they’re available in supplement form, a
study from the University of Vienna in Austria found that
a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt was just as effective in
boosting immunity as popping pills. In an 80-day
Swedish study of 181 factory employees, those who
drank a daily supplement of Lactobacillus reuteri—a
specific probiotic that appears to stimulate white blood
cells—took 33% fewer sick days than those given a
placebo. Any yogurt with a “Live and Active Cultures”
seal contains some beneficial bugs, but Stonyfield Farm
is the only US brand that contains this specific strain.

Oats and Barley:
These grains are among the list of immune boosting
foods because they contain beta-glucan, which is a type
of fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities
more potent than echinacea, a Norwegian study states
that when animals eat this compound, they’re less likely
to contract influenza, herpes, even anthrax; in humans, it
boosts immunity, speeds wound healing , and helps
antibiotics work better.

Garlic:
Inasmuch as garlic has being hated by so many because
of the awful breathe one expires after taking it: Read our
8 causes of bad breath. It has being added to the list of
immune boosting foods because it relatively contains the
active ingredient allicin, which fights infection and
bacteria. British researchers gave 146 people either a
placebo or a garlic extract for 12 weeks; the garlic takers
were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold. Other studies
suggest that garlic lovers who chow more than six cloves
a week have a 30% lower rate of colorectal cancer and a
50% lower rate of stomach cancer.

Ginger:
Ayurvedic medicine claims Ginger warms the body and
helps to break down accumulation of toxins in the
organs, specifically the lungs and sinuses. This root also
helps to cleanse the body’s lymphatic system, which is
the body’s sewer system.

Shellfish:
Selenium, plentiful in shellfish such as oysters, lobsters,
crabs, and clams, helps white blood cells produce
cytokines—proteins that help clear flu viruses out of the
body. Salmon, mackerel, and herring are rich in omega-3
fats, which reduce inflammation, increasing airflow and
protecting lungs from colds and respiratory infections.

Chicken Soup:
When University of Nebraska researchers tested 13
brands, they found that all but one (chicken-flavored
ramen noodles) blocked the migration of inflammatory
white cells—an important finding, because cold
symptoms are a response to the cells’ accumulation in
the bronchial tubes. The amino acid cysteine, released
from chicken during cooking, chemically resembles the
bronchitis drug acetylcysteine, which may explain the
results. The soup’s salty broth keeps mucus thin the
same way cough medicines do. Added spices, such as
garlic and onions, can increase soup’s immune-boosting
power.

Tea:
People who drank 5 cups a day of black tea for 2 weeks
had 10 times more virus-fighting interferon in their blood
than others who drank a placebo hot drink, in a Harvard
study. The amino acid that’s responsible for this immune
boost, L-theanine, is abundant in both black and green
tea—decaf versions have it, too.

Sweet Potatoes:
You may not think of skin as part of your immune
system. But this crucial organ, covering an impressive
16 square feet, serves as a first-line fortress against
bacteria, viruses, and other undesirables. To stay strong
and healthy, your skin needs vitamin A. “Vitamin A plays
a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key
component of skin,” explains Prevention advisor David
Katz, MD, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research
Center in Derby, CT. One of the best ways to get vitamin
A into your diet is from foods containing beta-carotene
(like sweet potatoes), which your body turns into vitamin
A.

Mushrooms:
For centuries, people around the world have turned to
mushrooms for a healthy immune system.
Contemporary researchers now know why. “Studies
show that mushrooms increase the production and
activity of white blood cells , making them more
aggressive. This is a good thing when you have an
infection,” says Douglas Schar, DipPhyt, MCPP, MNIMH,
director of the Institute of Herbal Medicine in
Washington, DC.

Beef:
The last on our list of immune boosting foods is the beef.
Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional
shortfalls among American adults, especially for
vegetarians and those who’ve cut back on beef, a prime
source of this immunity-bolstering mineral. And that’s
unfortunate, because even mild zinc deficiency can
increase your risk of infection. Zinc in your diet is very
important for the development of white blood cells , the
intrepid immune system cells that recognize and destroy
invading bacteria, viruses, and assorted other bad guys,
says William Boisvert, PhD , an expert in nutrition and
immunity at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla,
CA.

To get the maximum results from the immune boosting
foods you have to exercise a lot, sleep properly, minimize
stress, avoid sugar and finally maintain good hygiene.

ctlr c'd, and ctlr v'd from:
http://cliniconomy.com/immune-boosting-foods/