Your immune system protects you from harmful organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Certain nutrients, such as vitamins C and E, may stimulate your immune system and help it to protect you from infectious diseases. Foods that contain high amounts of these nutrients may help you to build a stronger immune system. Consult your nutritionist about your health and foods that contain high amounts of immune-stimulating nutrients.
Oranges
The orange is a fruit with a high concentration of vitamin C. Research by scientists at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, Israel, and published in "Oncology Reports" in 2001 discovered that a 15-percent orange pulp diet stimulates the immune response to carcinogenic substances. The research found that orange pulp has a clear tumor suppressor effect and modifies the number of certain types of tumors and follicles.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are a popular food in Asian cuisine. The mushrooms contain a substance called lentinan, which has immune-stimulating properties that can prevent the spread of malaria -- a parasitic disease that causes high fevers, chills and anemia. Malaria is an infectious disease that is highly prevalent in tropical countries. Easily transmitted from human to human through mosquito bites, this disease infects your liver and multiplies in your red blood cells. Research by scientists at the Department of Immunology at China Medical University in Shenyang and published in "International Immunopharmacology" in 2009 discovered that lentinan, the substance in shiitake mushrooms, induces immune response to control the proliferation of malaria parasites. The research concludes that lentinan has prophylactic properties in the treatment of malaria.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a food that contains probiotics -- intestinal-friendly bacteria that can stimulate your immune system and enhance the flora in your intestinal tract. Yogurt acts as a feeding substrate for the bacteria to grow and thrive prior to consumption. Research by scientists at the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland and published in the "British Journal of Nutrition" in 2009 evaluated the impact of probiotic yogurt on small-intestinal bacteria growth in a healthy elderly population. The research results demonstrated that administration of probiotic yogurt stimulated the immune system, including the response of white blood cells and other immune cells such as cytokines, monocytes, neutrophils and phagocytes.
Green Tea
Green tea is among the most popular beverages in the world. Green tea is made from dried leaves of Camellia sinensis -- a plant with high concentrations of an antioxidant called polyphenols that stimulate your immune system. Drinking green tea daily can reduce your risk of chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis -- an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and pain in your joints. Research by scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2008 discovered that green tea induces changes in arthritis-induced immune responses. The research concludes that green tea may be effective in the nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Nutrition and Immunity, Part 1; Victoria J. Drake, PhD; June 2010
- "Oncology Reports"; Effects of a 15% Orange-Pulp Diet on Tumorigenesis and Immune Response in Rats with Colon Tumors; G. Kossoy, et al.; Nov-Dec 2001
- PubMed Health; Malaria; David C. Dugdale, III, MD; May 30, 2009
- "International Immunopharmacology"; The Shiitake Mushroom-Derived Immuno-Stimulant Lentinan Protects Against Murine Malaria Blood-Stage Infection by Evoking Adaptive Immune-Responses; Lian-di Zhou, et al.; April 2009
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; Probiotic Yogurt in the Elderly with Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Endotoxaemia and Innate Immune Functions; Eduardo Schiffrin, et al.; April 2009
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Green Tea Protects Rats Against Autoimmune Arthritis by Modulating Disease-Related Immune Events; Hong Ro Kim, et al.; November 2008
