Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food -Hippocrates
The escalating fear over the deadly and debilitating effects of Ebola virus triggered a question on my mind: What about the 10 per cent of infected people who survive the attack of the virus? What makes them different from the helpless victims? The answer lies in how powerful our immune system is. And how protective it is against any external attack. To understand these assertions consider your body as a country and the immune system as the soldiers, performing their constitutional responsibilities. If a country has a set of strong, well trained and equipped army, it would be difficult for foreign invaders to defeat it on the battle field. So also are our antibodies and the capacity to ward off disease-causing microorganisms called pathogens.
To understand this futher, if two groups of people who live in the same environment; breath in contaminated air, water and food, the group that does not fall sick easily is made of people with high immunity. You must have observed that there are some families in your environment whose members hardly get sick or go the hospital for frequent treatment. The answer lies in the wise choice of the food they eat regularly as well as their general lifestyle. This is an excerpt from my upcoming book entitled, Food for Health: Eat Right Every day.
Foods That Boost Immunity
It has been discovered by scientists that some foods are powerful in contributing to the body’s immunity. We need to know them, eat them regularly in this age when new diseases such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and now Ebola virus have become prevalent.
Listed below are immune-boosting foods and their functions. Please note that i do not refer to them as foods that kill Ebola virus. No!
1. Egg. Eggs? Yes, eggs because they are packed full with useful amino acids, zinc and B-vitamins. Contrary to previous belief, scientists at Harvard University, United States, U.S. have proved with empirical evidence that eggs do not raise blood cholesterol levels.
Eggs also build white blood cells (wbc) and antibodies, which the body needs to fight off illnesses. Eat them boiled for maximum effect. An egg a day increases blood levels of lutein by 26% and zeaxanthin by 38% without raising cholesterol. Eggs may not contain as much lutein and zeaxanthin as we have them in the eye-friendly anti-oxidants present in dark green, leafy vegetables but are better able to absorb them according to nutritional bio-chemist, Elizabeth Johnson.
2. Yoghurt
It contains pro-biotics that strengthen the body’s immune system. In one research, it was found that people who drink three-quarters of a cup of yoghurt daily for a year had 25 per cent fewer colds than those who didn’t.
3. Red ball pepper
One pepper contains a whopping 200mg or more of vitamin C (an orange provides 70mg). It helps in both the building and protection of body cells.
4. Ginger
For centuries, the Chinese had used ginger as a cure-all for cold. Fresh ginger fights viruses by helping your body to sweat out toxins.
To enjoy it, peel it, chop to small pieces and add to shrimp mixed with vegetables that are stir-fried.
5.Garlic
You don’t like the smell, do you? However, it is nature’s own anti-biotic. This is because it contains sulphur-based compounds that keep your body free of infection. Peel, crush it and mix with mashed potatoes.
Garlic also has anti-viral and anti-biotic properties. Two cloves a day will keep your immune system in top form. Do not cook for long to keep it potent.
6. Raw cocoa and dark chocolate
Eating raw cocoa and dark chocolate is good for one’s health as they contain very useful anti-oxidants known as flavonoids that provide numerous health benefits.
7. Sweet potatoes
Unknown to some people, sweet potatoes do not belong to the same family as the common white potato. Like other brightly-coloured, orange-yellow vegetables they are rich in beta-carotene that enhances good eyesight. They also contain potassium, foliate and some iron. They possess plant sterols that assist to lower blood cholesterol because of the excellent source of soluble and insoluble fibre.
8. Mushrooms
From the Stone Age period to modern times, mushrooms have been known and used by man for medicinal purposes. Asians adore it. The Japanese, particularly have taken their time to study them. They are natural flavour enhancers in dishes because of monosodium glutamate (MSG). They are fat-free, low in calories, but rich in chemicals, especially glutamic acid that boosts the body’s immunity.
In addition, they are powerful in fighting cancer, arthritis and lupus. Rich in copper, a single dose contains 20-40% of daily need. All mushrooms contain good amounts of potassium, helpful in lowering blood pressure. White mushrooms are sources of selenium that prevents prostate cancer. It works with vitamin E to clean up the free radicals.
9. A mixture of carrot, apple, pear and mango helps to clear the body of heat, toxins, decrease blood pressure and fight oxidation.
In addition, one is also well-advised to live cleaner and healthier lifestyles. Avoid being exposed to frequent smoke, dust, dangerous factory chemicals and gas, carbon monoxide fumes from motor-vehicles and generators and even the smoke from cigarettes and mosquito coil.
As the battle against Ebola virus begins in earnest, personal hygiene has been advanced as an effective antidote to contacting it. Wash your hands regularly with soaps and disinfectants. Avoid the eating of bush meat, especially animal vectors such as monkeys, chimpanzees and fruit bats. Keep away from people with clear symptoms of high fever, weakening muscles, sore throat that degenerate into vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and eventually internal and external bleeding. Do not touch their dead bodies.
These are the painful realties of our current health challenge. A stitch in time saves nine.
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