Introduction
The human body is made up of 60% water, heart 70%, lungs almost 80%. But people tend to ignore the fact that this very constituent material can go scarce, when not consumed in good quantities. Often environmentalists have been observed to run slogans and summits with the motive of saving water, as there is plenty around but not enough to drink. Fewer people know, that apart from water, there are several other root minerals and vitamins that are needed for good health and a strong immune system. Also, several food products are boosting that too, all you have to do is just ask.
Vitamins constitute most of the body parts, well mostly help in sustaining them. Minerals, however, help in the building of the daily energy needed to do things. Together they both add up to be the most important nutrients required to sustain the human body and carry out basic to complex living chores, from winking to running and from a heartbeat to wrestling, well if someone is in that business. Apart from all these, there are food products and supplements which are the surplus source of certain vitamins and minerals. But to consume that, we must know which vitamin and minerals help to boost our immunity. Some of them are as follows-
No. #1: Vitamin A
From a scarce set of vitamins, this big a helps the human body to grow, stimulate organs, and implement many health factors, and also assures a good vision. Vitamin A includes retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid, and carotenoids, which have their specific implementation in the human body. As the name suggests, retinal, retinol and retinoic acid ensure good eyesight, while carotenoids help in good overall growth.
Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and prone to infections.
Vitamin A is an important aspect of boosting immunity, and it also helps in boosting the disease-retention capacity.
Good vitamin A sources are striking-coloredfood items, including carrots, spinach, chickpeas, broccoli, sweet potato and apple among others.
No. #2: Vitamin B
Consisting of eight complex vitamins, vitamin B is important for neuromuscular coordination and cell metabolism. Apart from that, vitamin B also is responsible for a good neuron system. Vitamin B consists of several other vitamins, including cobalamin, riboflavin, thiamine, folate among others.
Most of the B complex vitamins are associated with the good functioning nervous system, deficiency of which results in lack of good neuromuscular coordination, nervous breakdowns, difficulty in thought process among others. This can be a pretty good reason why it is important for boosting a person’s immunity, to fend off any type of disease/disorders and stay healthy.
Vitamin B rich food is whole grains, thick meat, dairy products, seeds and pulses, and leafy vegetables among others.
No. #3: Vitamin C
Acid, ascorbic acid. That’s how vitamin C introduces itself to the world, being one the sourest source of vitamins, it is consistent in all sour food. Some of the most used vitamin C try-outs are lemon, orange, papaya, broccoli, strawberries among others.
Vitamin C helps the neurotransmitters to function properly, and smoothly as well. It also helps in preventing scurvy, which is a bone deformity formed by its deficiency. It is an excellent anti-oxidant helping in the protection of cells from free dissolved radicals of broken salts and compounds. It is an important vitamin for boosting up the immune system to protect it from all diseases.
No. #4: Vitamin D
An important reason behind the good bone structure and healthy muscles apart from calcium, vitamin D does justice to its demand when it comes to boosting the immune system for good. It consists of heavy-duty food items like red meat, pork and egg yolks, cheese and fatty fish, along with dairy products.
Vitamin D also has one of the most unusual sources, the sunlight. Taking enough sunlight ensures the sufficiency of vitamin D in the body, not leading to other health-related factors.
Vitamin D deficiency causes bone and muscle weakening and other body structure-related problems, including rickets.
No. #5: Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been credited with the chore to get rid of undigested food. Its role is to properly digest the food and get rid of the underlying fat. Food items rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and legumes, green leafy vegetables, and cereals among others.
Vitamin E deficiency can lead to nervous system-related issues, including loss of feeling n body parts, muscle weakness, and eyesight problems.
No wonder vitamin E is on the immunity-boosting list, as, without it, a person would surely fall to these diseases and deformities.
No. #6: Iron
Iron comes under the mineral category. It is one of the most important minerals in use, the consumer being human directly and indirectly. Iron helps in the accumulation of hemoglobin in the blood, which helps in carrying oxygen to all parts of the body.
Apart from that, iron is also important for the no-brake growth of the body, and good blood circulation. That’s why it earned its place in being one of the most important minerals used in immunity boosting.
Iron-rich sources are spinach, turnip, beetroot, apple, pomegranate, chicken, chicken egg, lamb meat, goat meat and salmon among others.
Its deficiency can make a person anemic, and even low on blood sugar, prone to respiratory problems, and lung disorders.
No. #7: Zinc
Zinc is one of the most common minerals, or shall we say transition earth metals we need to sustain our body. It can be consumed directly in the form of meds and supplements, or as food products. Zinc is good for bowel movement and maintenance.
It is a major contributor to boosting the immune system, making it one of the most important ones too. Immunity can be the leading aspect of fending off many diseases, not to mention the neurological ones.
Zinc also helps in curing diarrhea, nervous problems, and cognitive ability among others. Some of the good sources of zinc are meat, shellfish, legumes and pulses, seeds, nuts, eggs, whole grains, and dairy among others.
No. #8: Selenium
Selenium is one of the non-metal minerals which can be termed as one of the most important immunity boosters out there. Apart from that, it is an optimum anti-oxidant, used to detoxify the body of the toxins and pathogens.
Several selenium-rich foods, like Brazil nuts, fish, enriched foods, pork, chicken and pulses are high on selenium levels. Also, there are several supplements and medicines for people suffering its deficiency.
Also Read: 10 Super Juices to Drink to Strengthen your Immunity
Although it has some side effects, only in over-the-top consumption levels, not in the required one.
Selenium constitutes one of the most important immunity booster and stamina builder out there, which is present in both food and supplement form, available at your disposal.
Reference
- Healthline.com Mineralsbymyside.com
- Vitamin Effects on the Immune System: Vitamins A and D Take Centre Stage
J Mora-Makoto Iwata-Ulrich von Andrian – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2906676/ - Vitamin D and the Immune System
Cynthia Aranow – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/ - Role Of the B Vitamins in the Immune Response
A Axelrod – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7010964 - Vitamin C and Immune Function
Anitra Carr-Silvia Maggini – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/ - Vitamin E and Immunity
S Moriguchi-M Muraga – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10714244 - Iron At the Interface Of Immunity and Infection
Nairz- Manfred- David- Demetz- Weiss- Günter- Egon – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2014.00152/full - Zinc and Immune Function: The Biological Basis Of Altered Resistance To Infection
A Shankar-A Prasad – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9701160 - The Role Of Selenium in Inflammation and Immunity: from Molecular Mechanisms To Therapeutic Opportunities
Zhi Huang-Aaron Rose-Peter Hoffmann – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3277928/