WISDOM Immunity boosters

Eating healthy stimulates one’s immunity. Recently, scientists have unravelled the complex mechanism of the immune system, and its dependence on your diet. If you have good immunity, you can prevent anything, from a common cold to a viral infection and stomach disorders to cancer. Food contains antioxidants that stimulate immune functioning and increase your resistance to infections. Our grandmothers encouraged us to eat curd regularly because yoghurt can kill and disable bacteria. It boosts the immune mechanism. According to some studies, it has been proved that consuming two cups of curd every day for four months increases the infection fighting capacity (gamma interferon) in the blood by five times as compared to those who do not eat curd. It also prevents diarrhoea and other stomach disorders. The next wonder food is garlic. On testing the blood of some garlic eaters, who were made to eat about 15 cloves a day, it was found that their blood contained more macrophages, which increase immunity. It is also advisable to consume more fruits and vegetables. Plant-based food contains a host of compounds that aids immunity. The introduction of green, leafy food, carrots pumpkins and fruits to your diet will help keep your defense mechanism up. Food rich in the mineral zinc can boost immunity to a great extent. Wholegrain cereals such as bajra, jowar, wheat bran, wheatgerm and shellfish, peanuts, lentils, skimmed milk, pumpkin, watermelon seeds, spinach, etc. are rich in zinc. Lack of zinc could result in the partial collapse of your immune mechanism. Animals with a zinc deficiency are unable to fight bacteria, viruses and parasites. Those with this deficiency are susceptible to common colds and respiratory tract infections. Zinc also helps reverse the deteriorating immune functions that tend to decline after the age of 60.

Guidelines to boost your immunity Eat four to five cloves of raw garlic every day A cup or two of curd a day keeps the bacteria and viruses away Go easy on sugar as it is known to lower immunity Avoid vegetable oils containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAS). Eat fresh fruits and green vegetables Avoid meat, pork and the skin of chicken Eat food rich in zinc such as shellfish, peanuts, wholegrain cereals, wheatgerm, oysters, and watermelon seeds.

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