| What is the immune system? Answer: The complex | | | | Vegetables which are good sources of vitamin A - |
| group of organs and cells that defends the body | | | | many of which are orange or dark green - include |
| against infection and disease. | | | | broccoli, carrots, dark leafy greens, pumpkin, sweet |
| A healthy immune system can protect the body from | | | | potatoes, winter and summer squashes, beetroot and |
| various infectious organisms and prevent the | | | | garlic. |
| occurrence of diseases. Hence it is very important to | | | | Vitamin B B vitamins are essential for the body as |
| maintain the immune system in peak condition. | | | | they are suppliers of energy. This energy can vitalize |
| In order to do this, it is essential to give the immune | | | | the immune system too. According to some |
| system the right fuel to work with, that is, adequate | | | | researchers, a regular intake of vitamin B6 increased |
| nutrition in the form of vitamins, minerals etc. When | | | | the count of white blood cells in women. White blood |
| your body lacks nutrition, you will have a weak immune | | | | cells are the main part of the immune system and fight |
| system. Since our bodies can not produce the nutrients | | | | foreign materials as well as infectious diseases. Folate |
| needed for optimal health, quality food plays a major | | | | and vitamin B12 are also found to be good for the |
| factor in keeping our cells healthy and our immune | | | | immune system. A good source of B12 for |
| system strong. Food not only provides energy to your | | | | vegetarians and vegans is aloe vera drinking gel. |
| body, but all the nutrients that are essential for a | | | | Vitamin D Is important for strong bones and teeth, |
| healthy immune system. | | | | blood clotting, and the absorption of calcium and |
| The following vitamins are essential for the immune | | | | magnesium. There are no vegetables that contain |
| system to stay healthy. | | | | significant amounts of vitamin D. The best source of |
| Vitamin C At the top of the list among natural immune | | | | vitamin D is sunlight. The body manufactures its own |
| boosters for the body, the research on the immune | | | | vitamin D from exposure to sunlight: 10 to 15 minutes of |
| boosting properties of the vitamin has been extensive. | | | | sunlight a day provides all the vitamin D the body |
| The body’s immune system offers protection | | | | needs. |
| against a host of viruses as well as health ailments. It is | | | | Vitamin E Vitamin E produces an immune protein called |
| of paramount importance that your body's immunity be | | | | interleukin-2, which induces the multiplication of white |
| enhanced in order to increase its ability to ward off | | | | blood cells, on the event of invasion by germs. The |
| diseases. Vitamin C can be obtained from various | | | | white blood cells fight the germs and prevent the |
| fruits and vegetables including cauliflower, oranges, | | | | occurrence of diseases. Interleukin-2, which is known |
| berries, kiwi, garlic, parsley, cabbage, red pepper, | | | | to fight bacteria and viruses, has also been approved |
| papaya, guava, broccoli, potatoes, spinach, Brussels | | | | by the FDA, as fit for use in the treatment of some |
| sprouts, and tomato. Of the lettuces, romaine is the | | | | types of cancers. Hence, vitamin E is also vital among |
| most nutritious: it has five times the vitamin C of | | | | the vitamins to boost immune system. The best |
| iceberg lettuce. Vitamin C is essential for good health. | | | | sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils such as canola, |
| Being water soluble the body is not able to store the | | | | corn, peanut, and soybean, as well as dark leafy |
| vitamin in adequate quantities. It is therefore important | | | | greens, legumes, broccoli, and pumpkin. Vitamin K helps |
| that you take in the necessary quantity of vitamin C | | | | blood to clot and is important in regulating calcium levels |
| everyday. In today's polluted environment it is important | | | | and promoting bone health. Vegetables that are good |
| that your body has a strong defense against toxic | | | | sources of vitamin K include leafy greens, such as |
| substances to ward off diseases. Also, an active | | | | spinach and lettuce, and cruciferous vegetables such |
| lifestyle is important to maintaining a strong immune | | | | as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. |
| system. Vitamin C can help to reduce free radicals in | | | | Vitamin H is needed for healthy hair, skin, and nails. |
| the body that are responsible for a host of medical | | | | Good vegetable sources of biotin are legumes, such |
| conditions from mild colds to even cancer. Giving high | | | | as soybeans and peanuts, and green vegetables. |
| doses of vitamin C at the start of a cold has been | | | | Studies have found that vegetarians actually absorb |
| proven to bring down the severity of the symptoms | | | | more biotin from the gastrointestinal tract than people |
| by a significant margin. | | | | who eat meat. |
| Vitamin A Vitamin A can be considered as the | | | | Apart from preventing the occurrence of illnesses, a |
| backbone of a healthy immune system. This vitamin | | | | healthy immune system can also shorten the recovery |
| helps the body in making enzymes, which can kill the | | | | period, in case of contraction of any disease. You can |
| germs entering the body. It can also strengthen the | | | | boost and maintain your immune system by adopting a |
| organs to make them capable of fighting pathogens. | | | | balanced diet, which is rich in the above vitamins. |
| Vitamin A is important for the health of bones, teeth, | | | | Another important factor is proper hygiene and a |
| skin, and eyes; it also keeps the mucous membranes | | | | healthy lifestyle. This list of immune system vitamins |
| of the lungs and nose moist and is important for | | | | and minerals may help suppress immune system |
| respiratory health. Many vegetables contain | | | | diseases and disorders and symptoms of immune |
| beta-carotene, also called pro-vitamin A, which is an | | | | system failure. |
| antioxidant that the body converts into vitamin A. | | | | |