NIE: HealthRocks

Found in supplements and many delicious foods, vitamins can easily boost your immune system. Here are a few of the most important vitamins: Vitamin A is the main defense of your immune system. Vitamin A is found in beef, pork and chicken and also vegetables including sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, butternut squash and dark leafy greens such as spinach, collard greens and kale. Vitamin B gives you energy and boosts your immune system. You can get different varieties of vitamin B, including B6 and B12, through dairy products and eggs, as well as dark leafy greens, beans, and whole grains. Vitamin C makes proteins in your body that kill germs. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. Vitamin D can reduce inflammation associated with some autoimmune disorders and is acquired through exposure to sunlight and also found in fatty fish and fortified milk products. Vitamin E also makes a protein that kills germs. Vitamin E is in vegetable and peanut oils, nuts, seeds, tofu, avocado and leafy green vegetables. Zinc is a mineral, as opposed to a vitamin, that can boost your immune system by helping white blood cells fight off infections. Zinc is found in lean meats and proteins. Some foods contain vitamins and other nutrients which are particularly good for maintaining a strong immune system. n Probiotic yogurt: Some varieties of yogurt contain probiotics, which help your body digest food. Not all yogurt contains these helpful cultures. If the yogurt is separated with liquid on top, it’s a good sign those probiotics are in there. n Omega 3 fatty acids: Found in walnuts, salmon, flaxseeds and other foods, Omega 3s reduce inflammation associated with some autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Some people take a vitamin supplement to get their Omega 3s. IMMUNITY BOOSTING FOODS Types of Immunity 1. Innate immunity: Everyone is born with natural, immunity against certain germs and viruses that are harmful to other species but do not affect humans. The same is true for animals. The AIDS virus, for example, is harmless to dogs and cats. Most germs and outside invaders are not a problem, thanks to our innate immunity. 2. Acquired immunity: Babies and little children sometimes get sick because their bodies haven’t had time to adapt to infectious diseases. When we are exposed to disease, or receive vaccines, our bodies build up defenses against them. Vaccines are important because they protect humans from deadly diseases by increasing acquired immunity. 3 . Passive/temporary immunity: Passive or temporary immunity is when your body borrows immunity from another source, which disappears after the source has been cut off. Breast milk, for example, contains antibodies that provide temporary immunity to nursing babies. When the babies stop consuming breast milk, the temporary immunity wears off. Immunity is also a team effort. The human body takes advantage of several types of immunity to protect it from diseases. How do germs, bacteria a sick? Let’s take a closer lo Bacteria: The bacteria t phages, B cells and T cells from their environments in you so it can cause infection cause sore throats, ear infecti some bacteria are actually go Good bacteria, or probiotics, a from foods and found in some a yogurt with the label that rea are probiotics, and they are good Viruses: Like bacteria, viruses ne reproduce. Without feeding off your viruses cannot survive. However, they such as desk, kitchen counter or doork to wash your hands to protect yourself fr chickenpox, measles, flu and other disease BACTERIA FUNGI PROTOZOA VIRUS Ger You