Every home needs ongoing maintenance to function reliably 365-24-7. Left unattended, systems have the capacity to fail. The same is true of our bodies. These foods play a major role in keeping your body “up and running,” and were provided by a colleague from our Greenwich, CT, office:

Vitamin C – Citrus Fruits/Greens: Foods high in vitamin C (grapefruits, oranges, tangerines, sweet red pepper, broccoli, strawberries, kale, and kiwis) can increase white blood cell production, a key to fighting infection.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a key fat-soluble vitamin to regulate and support immune system function, including nuts, seeds, avocado, and spinach.

Vitamin D – Sunshine, Fish & Eggs – Vitamin D (salmon, canned tuna, egg yolks, and mushrooms) is essential to immune function and helps regulate the body’s immune response. 13-15 minutes of sunshine three times a week works, too.

Antioxidants – Green tea is packed with antioxidants that have been shown to enhance immune system function. It also contains amino acids that may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, which reduces inflammation in the body and helps fight infection.

Beta-Carotene – Root Vegetables & Greens – Beta-carotene (Carrots, spinach, kale, apricots, sweet potato, squash, and cantaloupe) converts to vitamin A, which is an anti-inflammatory vitamin that can help your antibodies respond to toxins, such as a virus, and are all great sources of beta-carotene. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin, so consuming foods with healthy fats will aid in absorption.

Probiotics, Gut Health & Immunity – Yoghurt, Kombucha, Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh (Fermented Soybeans), and certain types of cheese contain live cultures, also known as probiotics, which are thought to help stimulate the immune system to fend disease.

Garlic – T-Cell Booster – Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs in a variety of ways, by stimulating cells important to fighting disease and helping to regulate the immune system. It helps boost the production of virus-fighting T-cells and can reduce the number of stress hormones your body produces which can help your immune system function.

Zinc – Shellfish, Poultry, and Beans – Immune system cells need zinc to function as they are intended. Zinc is a mineral that our body does not store or produce. While oysters have the highest food content of zinc, there are several other options (crab, clams, lobster, and mussels), poultry (chicken or turkey), red meat and beans, cereals and some breads, but the best absorption comes from animal-based foods.

Vitamin B-6 – is essential in the formation of new and healthy red blood cells and aids in maintaining the lymphatic system. Chicken, turkey, cold-water fish (salmon and tuna), chickpeas (traditional hummus), bananas, fortified breakfast cereal, and nutritional yeast are great options.

Water – Hydration & Immunity – Water helps produce lymph, which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells through the body. Think cucumbers, watermelon, and celery or a cup of green tea with lemon, watermelon, cucumber, or mint-infused water for an immune system powerhouse beverage.

À votre santé!

Another reminder about English ivy, an invasive species that strangles and kills trees, like this one in West Cambridge. It’s our local kudzu, all too evident in Cambridge, Belmont and Somerville, taking over gardens and climbing trees. At the beginning of the climb, the roots can be pulled from the trees; once securely attached to the tree or wedged within the interstices of the trunk, the thick stem at the bottom of the tree needs to be sawed to destroy the vines.