Immune Boosting Foods

The foods you eat can help preserve your long-term health and certain foods may be helpful for boosting the immune system.

Here are five types of nutrients that your immune system needs to perform:

1. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and juices, kiwi fruit, peppers, broccoli and strawberries. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that may be helpful to boost the immune system of people under stress.
2. Zinc is an essential mineral and food sources of zinc include oysters, baked beans, cashews and chick peas.
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are known to suppress inflammation. Try walnuts, flaxseed and  oily fish including salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, trout and sardines.  
4. Vitamin E another powerful antioxidant is contained in almonds, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, peanut butter and wheat germ.
5. Carotenoids when consumed are converted to Vitamin A, a nutrient that helps regulate the immune system, found in carrots, kale, apricots, papaya and mango.