What foods can boost the immune system?

Most people know that protein is needed to build and maintain muscle mass and it also helps make meals more satisfying. But protein is an important player in keeping your immune system healthy, too. Specialized cells in your immune system are proteins, so your body needs protein from the diet in order to manufacture them.

Fruits and vegetables are sources of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A and C which support immune function. Along with healthy whole grains, fruits and vegetables also provide plenty of fiber which supports digestive health – an important factor in immune function, since we have immune cells that line our digestive tracts.

Fermented foods, such as yogurt, pickled vegetables and tempeh, provide natural probiotics (the so-called “good bacteria”) that populate the digestive tract. The good bacteria support immune health by crowding out other bacteria that can potentially make you sick.