To fight off cancers and infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, we need a strong immune system. Some of the factors which deplete our immune system are smoking, consumption of excessive sugar or alcohol, food allergens, chronic work stress, financial worries, lack of exercise, obesity, insomnia, lack of strong social relationships and depression. Meditation, yoga, exercise, restful sleep, laughing, playing, and spending time with good friends, can boost our immune system. So can drinking lots of water to cleanse the body of toxins.
To mount a strong defense against pathogens our immune system needs adequate nutritional support. We can help ourselves most by consuming whole foods which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids (like cold water fish, flax oil and avocados), enzymes, anti-oxidants, phyto-nutrients (like carotenoids and bioflavenoids), immune boosting vitamins (like Vitamins C and E), anti-inflammatory spices (like cumin and turmeric) and minerals (like zinc and selenium).
It has been known for some time that consumption of brown pigmented mushrooms can boost the immune system. However, white button mushrooms represent 90% of the annual total of all mushrooms consumed in the U.S. Recently Simin Meydani (the director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University) and Dayong Wu at the HNRCA Nutritional Immunity Laboratory in Boston conducted a study on the immune boosting effects of white button mushrooms.
They found that white button mushrooms promote immune function by increasing the production of antiviral and other proteins released by cells when they are protecting and repairing tissue. In particular, white button mushrooms enhance the maturity of immune system cells called dendritic cells from bone marrow. Dendritic cells make the T cells that can recognize and eventually deactivate or destroy antigens on invading microbes. So eat lots of white button mushrooms in omelettes, sautes, stews, stir fries and soups. Chopped garlic (an anti-cancer food) and chopped ginger (an anti-inflammatory) often go well with these mushrooms.
Tags: Immune System Boosting, Nutrition
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