The top 5 underrated ways to strengthen your immune system.

Our immune system is what protects our body from unwelcome intruders. In the world that we are living in right now, where there are chemicals to be found in our food, water, and the very air we breathe. It is crucial that we maintain our defenses and boost our immunity to the toxicities that exist outside of us.

The top three things that need to be considered when trying to strengthen our immune systems are: Is this product rich in antioxidants? Is it nutrient-dense? And does it contain anti-inflammatory properties? These three components are the building blocks for keeping our immune systems in shape.

How do our immune systems work?

Our immune system consists of white blood cells. These white blood cells are responsible for maintaining our immunity. The specific white cell that outshines the rest when it comes to supporting our immunity is Lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are broken up into three subtypes called: T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and Natural killer (NK) cells. T-lymphocytes can kill cancerous cells and parasites, NK Cells can identify and kill cells that are not good for our health, and B-lymphocytes give us the strength to fight against foreign antigens.

If you were to google natural foods to strengthen your immune system most likely the top result would be ginger and kombucha. These are great options. But I wanted to dive a little deeper with this article and discuss some methods that are rarely covered yet are more effective. First on the list is black seed oil.

1. Black Seed Oil

 For thousands of years, black seed oil has been used in the Middle East and Africa as medicine. This magical plant even appears in the Bible and in the Koran. In Egypt, there were seeds found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. This is truly ancient medicine. The oil from this plant can be used to help you with problems that you may have with your kidneys, respiratory system, immune system, digestive system, heart, and liver. You could say that it is a magic tonic for your overall health. Which, in turn, is boosting your immune system.  

Black seed oil contains Natural Killer (NK) cells

One way that black seed oil specifically aids your immune system is through NK cells. NK cells are a part of the body’s immune response that can attack irregular and infected cells directly such as infectious pathogens or cancer. Studies have shown that black seed oil greatly increases NK cell activity which aids the immune system.

Black seed oil has a ton of anti-inflammatory properties

Inflammation plays a role in almost all chronic health conditions. Luckily, black seed oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help keep you in good health. The main active ingredient in black seed oil is Thymoquinone. Thymoquinone is an antioxidant that can increase T-cell amount and white blood cell count which are both essential for helping our immune systems work efficiently.

2. Moringa

As early as 2000 years BC, moringa has been used as a medicinal herb in India. Moringa can even be found listed as a cure for over 300 diseases in the records of Ayurvedic Medicine, which is one of the oldest healthcare systems in the world. Moringa comes from a tree sometimes called the drumstick tree, miracle tree, or horseradish tree. Every part of this tree can be used for various health benefits, although, the most common part of this tree that is used for medicine is the leaves.

Moringa is nutrient-dense

Moringa contains 90 nutrients and 46 different antioxidants. One of the types of nutrients that are found in moringa is phytonutrients. Phytonutrients don’t just fight off infections but also help strengthen the immune system. Some of the nutrients that are especially rich in the leaves of moringa include…

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Zinc

Moringa also contains 8 essential amino acids that we need to maintain our health.

 Moringa is an inflammation fighter

Moringa does this amazing thing where it helps soothe inflammation in the body by suppressing inflammatory enzymes and encouraging the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. All the antioxidants that are abundant in moringa are also to be thanked for helping with any inflammatory problems that your body may have.

3. Irish Sea Moss

Irish sea moss is a macro-algae that can be found growing in the Caribbean and along the Atlantic coast. Irish sea moss is an anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-bacterial and anti-viral superhero. People from the Caribbean have known about the powers of Irish sea moss and have been using it as a great source of nutrients and for healing various ailments for many years.

Irish Sea Moss contains 92 of the 102 nutrients that our bodies need

As mentioned in the title, Irish sea moss contains most of the nutrients that our bodies need. It could be said that it is nature’s true multivitamin. The nutrients that are the most densely packed into sea moss include…

• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin A
• Riboflavin
• Folate
• Iodine
• Potassium

An inflammatory fighting machine

Irish sea moss is rich in potassium, omega-6 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and chlorophyll. The three of these together greatly help keep inflammation at bay. Did I mention that sea moss is also packed with antioxidants? Sea moss is fully equipped to battle any inflammation raging in your body.

4. Spirulina

Spirulina is the oldest living life form on earth, in the form of blue-green algae. It is one of the most nutrient-dense, plant-based sources of protein on the planet. Spirulina also contains most of the necessary nutrients we need to keep our bodies healthy. Fueling our body with the nutrients it needs is one of the best ways to keep our immunity on point.

Spirulina is packed with essential nutrients

 A list of some of the essential nutrients that Spirulina contains to aid your well-being, which in turn, boosts your immunity include…

• Calcium
• Vitamin E
• Iron
• Iodine
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Omega 3-s fatty acids
• Omega 6-s fatty acids
• All your essential amino acids
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Spirulina is also packed with selenium and zinc which contain antiviral properties that will help fight infection quickly and efficiently.

Spirulina contains extremely high amounts of antioxidants

We’ve discussed the importance of antioxidants before. Well, the good news is that spirulina is full of them. The main active compound in Spirulina is phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is an incredibly powerful antioxidant that aids with anti-oxidative function, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer function, immune enhancement function, and liver and kidney protection. What a powerhouse of an antioxidant!

5. Medicinal Mushrooms

Using mushrooms as medicine is highly underrated. Medicinal mushrooms can provide a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds which are essential for supporting our immune systems. Chaga, Lions Mane, Turkey Tail, Reishi, and Maitake mushrooms are a few of the top mushrooms that can be incorporated into your diet to increase your health and boost your immunity.

Medicinal mushrooms are an excellent source of nutrients that are needed for your immune system

Mushrooms are filled with selenium, potassium, and vitamin D which are revered as essential nutrients needed to support your immune system. They are also packed with loads of antioxidants that will aid in fighting inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory, Anti-Viral, Anti-Bacterial & Polysaccharides

Almost anti-everything negative that tries to attack your body! These mushrooms contain powerful properties that will defend your body against any attack. They also contain polysaccharides which have been shown to specifically have positive effects on the immune system.

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I am certain that you noticed that all of these foods had many characteristics in common. That they were all rich in antioxidants, nutrient-dense, and contained anti-inflammatory properties is no coincidence. In order to strengthen our immune systems, and fight inflammation and the possibility of invaders, we need to be equipping our bodies with the necessary weapons to fight off all possible attacks. It is crucial to remember that when we nourish, we flourish.

Written by Brook James