Boosting Immunity - essence, tips, specific products and recipes

The human immune system is a complex of intricate biochemical and physical processes that are not constant. They change with age and are directly related to the degree of exposure to diseases and various microorganisms from the surrounding environment. They also depend on the quality and our way of life. Immunity is the resistance of the human body to pathogenic factors from the external environment and is an expression of the body's adaptive abilities. The purpose of immunity is to preserve the integrity of the body when exposed to diseases and infections, as well as during changes in living and non-living nature.

How Human Immunity Changes

Immunity changes its expression depending on how we influence it – through additional nutritional supplements, a healthy lifestyle or a special diet, as well as through contact with specific diseases. In the latter case, the so-called active immunity is observed, which results from having suffered from a certain disease. The body produces antibodies against the pathogens of the disease. These become its protective reaction upon subsequent secondary contact with the same diseases. The altered immunity after vaccination is similar. This is again active immunity against a given disease, but it is of an artificial type because the antibodies in the body are created artificially. Boosting immunity with our own efforts and actions does not provide antibodies against specific diseases. Boosting immunity actually improves the immune system's ability to respond adequately with protective reactions when encountering a disease or an unfavorable factor from the external environment. Boosted immunity is not a guarantee against getting sick, but it significantly increases the body's ability to fight it off itself. With age, the human body has encountered more and more diseases to which it builds immunity. Adult immunity has many more "remembered" correct reactions over time against the negative influences of living and non-living nature.

Immunity in Children

Parents of young children will confirm that children's immunity at an early age is much more susceptible to environmental influences, and consequently to frequent illnesses. This is due to the fact that children's immune systems have not yet developed enough protective reactions against diseases and pathogenic factors simply because they are yet to encounter them. However, with each subsequent illness, children create additional active immunity, and the body memorizes a system of reactions to apply in future danger or risk of illness. It is believed that in the period between birth and 5 years of age, the immune system is in a so-called learning period. Immunity is still developing then. That is why almost every encounter with different bacteria, viruses, and allergens, the child's body accumulates new protective reactions that it will "use" throughout its life. There is a common misconception that children's immunity should not be interfered with, but should be allowed to develop naturally, to encounter all possible diseases until it acquires sufficient defensive capabilities. The old practice of taking healthy children to patients with measles so that they can go through the disease at the earliest possible age is a good example of what we are talking about. But the truth is that although we cannot prevent children from getting sick and thus perfecting their protective reactions, we can strengthen it so that every encounter with pathogenic factors passes more easily. Especially important for children's immunity are seemingly ordinary, but extremely important things such as spending more time outdoors, limiting sedentary activities in favor of active activities and pursuits, as well as stress and adequate handling of emotional changes and factors in daily life, and of course, proper nutrition. By proper nutrition for good immunity in children, we mean healthy, varied food that includes substances with a strengthening effect on the immune system.

Foods to Boost the Immune System

Science and medical practice have a significantly extensive list of foods that have proven to be natural immunostimulants. They have a specific complex of beneficial and immunity-regulating nutrients in a certain amount. In practice, however, some food products with proven properties for good immunity contain an insignificant amount of immunostimulating substances. To effectively influence our immunity through them, it is necessary to consume such a large volume of the given type, which practically cannot be eaten on a daily basis. That is why modern manufacturers of superfoods and diet products offer mixes of foods on the market that have the necessary daily amount of immunostimulants. For example, the Organic Functional Immunity Mix includes superfoods with proven fast-acting immunostimulating properties: baobab, rosehip, ashwagandha, acerola, and chili. Of course, there are many foods with an immune-boosting effect.

Garlic

Its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents are strong enough to boost immunity, which is why it has been known for years as a natural immune stimulant during the flu and cold season. However, garlic also contains antioxidants that further cleanse the body and cells, helping them to function properly even when sick and with weakened immunity. The specific spicy seasoning is also perceived as a "natural antibiotic" that can help the body fight off pathogenic factors more quickly. Schoenenberger Organic Garlic Juice can be taken both as a prophylactic agent during a flu epidemic and to help the body cope more easily with an already existing infection or contagion.

Ginger

This spice with a strong aroma and specific taste has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Over the years, ginger has proven to be one of the strongest immunostimulants, whose roots are recommended for both prevention and active support of treatments and serious diseases. The plant is highly valued for boosting immunity after severe illness, including after the use of strong medications and heavy medical procedures such as radiation therapy, and also in a weakened body. The antioxidants in Organic Ginger Powder, Dragon Superfoods improve the immune response in case of risk of arthritis, neurodegenerative conditions, intoxication, and viral pathogens.

Elderberry

Elderberry juice and food supplements with elderberry extract are extremely popular immune boosters, especially in children. This is due to the excellent antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant. Organic Elderberry Dilutable Syrup is recommended for colds, in case of flu, for the prevention of viral diseases, as well as for severe bacterial infections.

Mushrooms

Few people are aware of the unique immune-boosting properties of mushrooms. We usually perceive them more as food to pamper our stomachs and improve our final recipe. Scientists, however, have found that mushrooms contain selenium, riboflavin, and niacin, which, in turn, play a strong role in naturally boosting immunity. In addition, we find a considerable amount of polysaccharides in the composition of mushrooms, and the latter are responsible for a rapid immunological response when encountering viral infections and dangerous bacteria. However, mushrooms are a product that you should be careful with and purchase only from verified sources. Mushroom intoxication can lead to serious health problems, including a lasting drop in immunity. We advise you to choose verified and certified Organic Champignon Mushrooms, Green – Bio Tropic, which, in addition to having excellent taste qualities, can become part of your immunity-boosting recipes at home.

Immunity Boosting Recipes

There are many healthy recipes you can use to boost your immune system, both during illness and for prevention. We present you with a few specially selected options that taste great and offer incredible benefits for your entire body's health.

Bright Orange Cream Soup for Strong Immunity

What you need:

About 1 kilogram of fresh carrots
Organic Vegetable Broth, Green – Bio Tropic – 1 cube
1 onion
2 cloves of fresh garlic or garlic powder
3 tablespoons of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Green – Bio Tropic
200 grams of ginger root
Salt to taste and pepper if desired
Optionally, honey can be added – especially if the soup is for boosting children's immunity

How to prepare:
Chop the carrots into small pieces. Mince the garlic and onion, and grate the ginger or put it in a food processor. In a pot, heat the olive oil and add all the vegetables, seasoning with salt and pepper. Stir the vegetables well for a few minutes to prevent them from burning, then add warm water for simmering until they soften. Then pour in about 1 liter of broth and let the soup simmer on the stove. After about 20 minutes, blend all ingredients until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Add one tablespoon of honey for flavor and stir again!

Fruit and Vegetable Salad for Immunity

What you need:

1 stalk of celery
2 apples
2 kiwis
1 grated beetroot
3-4 large plums
Lemon juice – 2-3 tablespoons
50 milliliters of yogurt

How to prepare:
Cut the fruits and vegetables (except the beetroot) into equally sized strips. Mix them with the beetroot and pour the dressing, made from a mixture of lemon juice and yogurt, over them. The salad should be consumed fresh!

Delicious Smoothie for Boosting Immunity

What is needed?

100 milliliters of almond milk
3-4 almonds
½ banana
2 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of Gourmet Grade Chia Seeds
1 apple

How to prepare:
Blend the almonds and chia seeds in a blender. Add the mashed banana, apple, and almond milk to them. Blend everything in the blender, then add the honey and blend again for about half a minute until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. Cheers!

Boosting Immunity – When and How

As we already mentioned, the sample recipes for boosting immunity are suitable both during illness to support the body, and for prevention. In practice, our efforts to boost immunity should be constant, not just when we get sick and need more strength, and therefore support our body. If we don't constantly care for our immunity, when encountering an illness or infection, which is impossible to avoid even for the healthiest people, it will not be able to respond adequately to the attack. Conversely, if we constantly care for the protective functions of the immune system, when we get sick, our body will be prepared and will be able to cope more easily and without consequences or complications with pathogenic factors. Naturally, during the flu and cold season, our means and efforts to boost immunity should be even more serious, effective, and intensive due to the higher risk of getting sick. Usually, this is the season when, in addition to foods rich in immunostimulating agents, we can also support immunity with specialized nutritional supplements. These include tinctures, powdered mixtures for dissolving in water, as well as traditional complexes of vitamins and substances beneficial to the body. Among the latter, vitamin C remains the most traditional means of boosting immune responses in the body.

Vitamin C - How to Get It?

Vitamin C can be taken in the form of a dietary supplement – tablets, ampoules, liquid Liposomal Vitamin C, and others. However, the natural sources of this vital vitamin should not be underestimated. Most foods that contain a significant amount of vitamin C are in fact natural immunostimulating foods that we can add to the already mentioned most famous among them above. Here are the foods from which we can get vitamin C naturally.

Citrus fruits. They contain nearly 100 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Among them, lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are the most prominent.
Hot peppers. With one coffee cup of hot peppers, you will get about 110 mg of vitamin C.
Broccoli. Although known as an antioxidant and for its anti-cancer properties, this vegetable provides nearly 130 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams.
Strawberries. One of our favorite fruits is rich in many vitamins and minerals, specifically containing nearly 90 mg of vitamin C in 100 grams.
Guava. From this exotic fruit, you get a significant amount of vitamin C, as well as a lot of fiber, folic acid, and minerals like manganese, copper, and potassium. Since this is a rare fruit in our country and can be difficult to find in raw form, but it is very tasty, we recommend Natural juice for healthy blood vessels with a high content of guava puree.
Brussels sprouts. Per 100 grams, they contain nearly 85 mg of vitamin C and, in addition to good immunity, this vegetable is also recommended for the prevention of almost all types of cardiovascular diseases.

Boosting immunity is not a sprint to run while we are sick. Boosting immunity is a marathon, a daily task that, if done correctly, will allow us to enjoy robust health, and if we do get sick, a quick recovery.

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