Excellent food and nutrition is the intelligent way to avoid disease and indeed most natural foods and drinks contain remedies for most illnesses. With the discovery of more and more phytonutrients, medicine is coming full circle and starting, once again, to embrace the words of Hippocrates — “Let food be your medicine, and medicine your food.” Imagine getting a prescription from your doctor for broccoli, garlic and wheatgrass. This is the scenario that scientists are predicting, as more and more phytochemicals are found in food. Phytochemicals are active compounds in food that prevent disease.
Every time you eat living foods, fruit and vegetables you take in a cocktail of essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes and phytochemicals that work together synergistically to promote your good health. It is true that people are now living much longer than before, but it is also true that people in rich countries are now suffering from more diseases which cause intense suffering in the last years of their lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that with increased knowledge of nutrition it is possible to live a long, healthy and active life and to die in old age in good health.
It would be impossible to list all the foods that boost immunity but here is my list of top five.
Fish
Quite apart from being a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals (especially selenium), fish are also rich in many brain-enhancing nutrients. These Omega-3 fats are particularly associated with health improvements, including reduction of risk for cardiovascular disease, balancing hormones and improving mental function.
Fruits and vegetables
Berries and other fruits with a purple/blue color such as black grapes, bilberries, cranberries, blackcurrants and blueberries especially are very powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cress, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, mustard radish and turnip, and has been linked to a decreased cancer risk. Always try to make sure you eat fruit, salads and vegetables every day to boost your immune system.
Garlic
For thousands of years people have been aware of the beneficial properties of garlic. The slaves who constructed the pyramids of Egypt were given garlic cloves daily to sustain their strength, as were Roman soldiers. Back in 1858, Louis Pasteur confirmed that garlic had anti-bacterial effects and it was used to treat infection before the days of more specific antibiotics. Garlic contains around 200 biologically active compounds, many of, which play a role in preventing diseases including our two major killers, cancer and heart disease.
Seeds and nuts
Seeds and nuts are rich sources of essential fats, vitamin E and many minerals including calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium. While nut and seed consumption has declined due to fat phobia, I recommend eating a handful every day instead of crisps and chips. The WHO believes that with increased knowledge of nutrition it is possible to live a long, healthy and active life.
Ask Alva
What can I do to stop my chocolate addiction before and after my periods? — Fiazia
Chocolate cravings can be controlled by taking a magnesium supplement. — Alva
I am in my 30s and I still have a problem with my skin, especially when I feel stressed. — Annie
There are days when everyone just feels overwhelmed, and not in control any more — every little thing starts to get you down, making you feel more depressed, anxious, frustrated or just plain exhausted. This condition is known as stress, and can take its toll on the body and skin in many ways. Stress is a high-energy user, and also uses lots of toxins. When you have problems with stress, it’s harder for your body to transport oxygen to the other parts of the body, and your skin cells are the first to be affected. If your skin cells are low in nutrients and energy, there will be a decline in the quality of your skin. Dryness, blemishes and a grey pasty-looking complexion are all signs of stress. It is good to be aware that you are stressed and take steps to boost your immune system. Permea Plus will help with your skin tone, but eat well in times of stress to boost your immune system. — Alva