One carrot provides 1480mg of vitamin A from beta carotene. Vitamin A keeps mucous passageways healthy, which prevents viruses and germs from entering.
Peppers offer twice as much vitamin C as oranges. Vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system, especially after intense exercise.
In addition to containing more vitamin C than citrus fruits, kale is also an excellent source of vitamin A and antioxidant vitamin E.
Three months of garlic tablets or placebos were administered to 146 subjects. The garlic group had 24 colds compared to 65 in the placebo group.
A variety of protein sources, such as fish, lean meat and poultry, eggs and beans and peas, as well as soya products such as tofu, are encouraged on a regular basis.
A good dose of selenium and B vitamins can be found in mushrooms. Vitamin D-enriched mushrooms, with 2.5mg of vitamin D per 100g, are also available.
With a handful of cashews, brazil nuts, and peanuts, you'll get a good dose of zinc, selenium, iron and vitamin B6, as well as other nutrients.
Honey was found to be more effective than diphenhydramine (an antihistamine cough suppressor), no treatment, or placebo in a study of children with a cough.
It's possible that the helpful bacteria and yeasts in kefir, when consumed in large quantities, can enhance the efficiency of your immune system.
T-cells, a type of white blood cell important in fighting infection, increased in those who ate a diet high in whole grains.
Berries contain a variety of phytochemicals, such as anthocyanins, which help improve the health of beneficial gut flora, so boosting the immune system.
Oats contain beta-glucan, which, in high doses, has been demonstrated to prevent and decrease the symptoms of the common cold.