Eating Healthy to Boost Your Immune System
Feeding your body certain foods helps keep your immune system strong. Good nutrition and less snacking also means healthy teeth. Snacking between meals limits the amount of time saliva has to wash away food. This means more food remains in the mouth for bacteria to process. If possible, limit snack time to no more than 1-2 times a day. Here our a few of our favorite food boosters:
Citrus Fruits (grapefruit, tangerines, oranges, lemons, limes)
Most people turn to vitamin C because it helps build your immune system by increasing production of white blood cells (key to fighting infections).
Broccoli
It's supercharged with vitamins A, C and E and fiber. Eating broccoli raw will help keep all it's nutrients.
Garlic
It helps lower blood pressure and has a heavy concentration of sulfur-containing compounds such as allicin.
Spinach
Also rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It also helps increase infection-fighting ability of our immune systems.
Almonds
Vitamin E is key to a healthy immune system. It is a fat soluble vitamin meaning it requires the presence of fat to be absorbed properly.
Turmeric
It has been used as a spice for many years in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. It is also an anti-inflammatory and contains curcumin which also helps decrease exercise induced muscle damage.
Remember, a poor diet can lead to poor oral health and dental disease. Making smart food choices means you will look great, feel great and keep your teeth looking great!