Essential foods needed for Immune System

 Antioxidants are essential for immune system - as they neutralize harmful free radicals and protects cells from damage, is vital for our immune system

The major Vitamins  contains antioxidants  are vitamin A,B,C and E.The minerals Zinc and  Selenium also are  antioxidants.

Almost all fruits are in one way or other, good for immune system.

Vitamin A : apple,mango,orange,watermelon, milk,tomato,greens,carrot, peas, spinach..

Vitamin B  : Bananas, Dates, Spinach, Potatoes, milk products..

Vitamin C  : Spinach, Lemons, Strawberries, Potatoes, Green pepper..

ZINC :   spinach, cashews nut, peanuts, beans,mushrooms..

Selenium  :  Whole-Wheat Bread, mushrooms, Whole Grains,cashews nuts..

Vitamin E is very much needed for aged people. T- cells will be less in them.When lymphocytes dies in them,their Immune system will lose the capacity to remember  to which micro organism to fight with.This results a reduction of immune response capability. Thats why more infections, more inflammatory diseases, and more cancer.   Vitamin E can help to an extend for this problem.

 Sunflower oil, soya bean oil, tomatoes, Peanuts, Spinach, sweet potato, almonds are rich in Vitamin E.

Phytic acid( IP-6)  is also an essential antioxidant to fight against   breast, colon and liver Cancers. Grains contains Phytic acids.

Some herbals contains Adaptogens, which  are also essential for immune system. They are not directly acting on immune system, but works on  adrenal system, which normalizes hormone productions: means which is most important and to what extent  and helps all the functions of body.

Basil ( Ocimum ), Asian ginseng, Ashwagandha, Mushrooms (Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake) are good Adaptogens.

 Functions Of  Immune System:      Our  Immune system consist of a group of white cells.They protects our body by defending against decease causing micro-organisms (bacteria,virus etc). These white cells very much  realizes  which are harmful to us - which ones helpful (even for digestion)  - which are neutral.

 Immune system includes  various cells like antibodies, Macrophages, B-Lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes and NK lymphocytes. These all cells are made of  protein in various proportion of Amino acids. When  an Antigen ( harmful bacteria, or virus)  enters in body,   the B-Lymphocytes quickly understand it and release certain antibody which covers the Antigen to prevent it for causing any damage to our body.The same time  Macrophages will ingest and destroy it by the required chemicals.

 They even  produces  Radical to kill the Antigen. Oxygen radicals can  damage many of the most important macro molecules.But after this process, the said  Macrophages   has to be destroyed.  Its done with the help of antioxidants, like vitamins C and E.

T-lymphocytes helps both B-lymphocytes and Macrophages in their work. If this is not sufficient, NK lymphocytes acts. They are  the strongest cells to fight with.  NK cells,with the use of cytotoxic molecules,  can kill tumor cells or cells infected with a virus.

In order to keep Immune system  a perfect one, we need vitamins, antioxidants and Adaptogens. Its always good to avoid smoking and alcohol.