Staying Healthy Through the Weather Changes

Filed in archive Latin Food , Latina Health on May 14, 2008

© MShades



Spring is one of my favorite seasons, but the weather changes in my corner of the world make it tricky to stay healthy sometimes. I love curling up in my bed, but I would rather it not be with a box of tissues.

I can either hide from the world, or boost my immune system and feel free to go out and play. Here are some of the immune system boosting edibles doctors and nutritionists embrace:

Protect Your First Line of Defense

-Eat orange vitamin A-rich foods: salmon, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, melons, papayas, nectarines . They keep your skin healthy, and that is your first protective barrier against pathogens.

Increase White Blood Cells and Beef Up Their Attack

-Include zinc-rich foods: beef, milk, yogurt, oysters.

-Add garlic to your meals, raw or cooked.

-Eat more mushrooms, especially reichi, shiitake, and maitake.

-Have soy beans.

Clean Up Free Radicals

-Look for sources of antioxidants: green tea, white tea, dark chocolate, green leafy vegetables, nuts, eggs, shell fish.

Include Probiotics

-Eat yogurt with live cultures. It provides bacteria that your stomach needs.

Those are the foods. Stay tuned for the behaviors.