Herbs and fruits can boost your immune system

Agriculturist-MSc Botany-Biology and PhD Candidate in Agricultural-Environmental Education and Science Communication Evropi-Sofia Dalampira notes in the following article published on thenationalherald.com that you can boost your immune system with herbs and fruits:

We are all part of nature. As mammals, we have the inner need to be in contact with nature, for sunlight, fresh air, movement and other things that make us humans. These are difficult times indeed, but focusing on positive things is of the utmost importance, to stay healthy in body and mind.

Staying indoors is not healthy for our immune system in general, it is but mandatory until the pandemic is over. Boosting our immune system is needed now more than ever, due to its weakening from staying inside, but also because we need ot to be stronger to fight against infections. Also, there is a lot of research supporting the idea that our immune system is affected by our mental health as well as our daily diet. Positive thoughts and focusing on our precious health should be accompanied with a good diet.

These days, staying inside may reveal bad dietary habits, which may have a negative impact on our health and immune system. Eating fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables should be our focus. More specifically, vitamin C from fresh oranges, rosehips, strawberries, kiwi, lemons, and mandarins are the best sources. Also, with vitamin C, our body can absorb most of the other nutrients better. So, combine a meal or breakfast will fresh juice, herbal teas, or raw fruits and vegetables with vitamin C. But be careful – always make your own juice, because vitamin C is destroyed after an hour in the environment. Alternately, some herbs combined with vitamin C can enhance your immune system. A mix of mountain tea, rosehips, Sambucus, rosemary, and sage will be an ideal herbal drink for any time of the day and caffeine-free. These herbs have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant substances. For a nice combination, you can put four tsp. of mountain tea, four tsp. of rosehips, 1 tsp. of sambucus, 1/2 tsp. of rosemary, ½ tsp. of sage in 1 liter of very hot water (do not boil them). Another combination, focused more on the respiratory system is eucalyptus, thyme, and rosemary. Also, the fruit of arbutus unedo (strawberry tree or ‘koumaria’ in Greek) is an excellent tea to boost your immune system. In each cup add a teaspoon of honey (for and extra boost of the above properties) and some freshly squeezed juice of lemon or orange. Add the juice in a lukewarm beverage because vitamin C is sensitive to temperature. And always remember that by eating healthy and by using herbs in our daily life we ‘build’ a better immune system and fight illnesses before anything happens to us. Of course, always use medical advice from a doctor in case of any illness.

* The above is not medical advice but mere suggestions for improving your diet. Before reach herbal use you should consult your doctor, especially those who have health issues, are pregnant or are under the age of 6.

Read more at thenationalherald.com

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