YOU’RE WATCHING KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. FLU SEASON IS HITTING ESPECIALLY HARD THIS YEAR. KOAT UNM HEALTH EXPERT DOCTOR ASH SPOKE WITH ALIYAH CHAVEZ ABOUT HOW CERTAIN FOODS CAN BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS. FLU CASES ARE RISING IN. MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK. THE FLU SHOT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT FOOD ALSO HELPS YOUR BODY STAY STRONG. NO SINGLE FOOD CAN STOP THE FLU, BUT EATING FOODS WITH THE RIGHT VITAMINS CAN HELP YOUR BODY FIGHT GERMS AND RECOVER FASTER. WHICH VITAMINS SHOULD PEOPLE THINK ABOUT? GOOD QUESTION. LET’S START WITH VITAMIN C. VITAMIN C HELPS IMMUNE CELLS FIND AND FIGHT INFECTION AND CAN HELP SHORTEN COLDS. THE BEST SOURCES OF VITAMIN C ARE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, ESPECIALLY BELL PEPPERS, WHICH HAVE EVEN MORE VITAMIN C THAN ORANGES. SOME OTHER GOOD OPTIONS ARE CITRUS FRUITS, BROCCOLI AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS. BERRIES, ESPECIALLY STRAWBERRIES, ALSO HAVE A LOT OF VITAMIN C. AND THEN NEXT IS VITAMIN D, WHICH HELPS CONTROL HOW YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. YOU CAN GET IT FROM THINGS LIKE FISH, SALMON, TUNA, AND FROM DAIRY, ESPECIALLY MILK AND YOGURT. YOGURT ALSO HELPS YOUR GUT, AND A HEALTHY GUT HELPS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR PLANT BASED OPTIONS, MUSHROOMS NATURALLY CONTAIN A LOT OF VITAMIN D, AND A LOT OF DRINKS AT THE STORE ARE FORTIFIED WITH IT, INCLUDING ORANGE JUICE AND ALMOND MILK. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ONE IS VITAMIN B6, WHICH HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM DO ITS JOB. GARLIC IS A GOOD SOURCE OF B6, AND IT ALSO HAS NATURAL COMPOUNDS THAT HELP FIGHT GERMS. YOU CAN ALSO GET IT FROM CHICKPEAS, VARIO
Colder months amid winter means heightened risk of flu exposure. More than 40 states have reported ‘high’ or ‘very high’ flu activity levels in January.Certain foods can help boost immune systems to help combat flu infection. Abinash Achrekar, KOAT and University of New Mexico health expert, explains how one vitamin can make an impact.”Vitamin C helps immune cells find and fight infection and can help shorten colds,” Achrekar said. “The best sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, especially bell peppers, which have even more vitamin C than oranges. Some other good options are citrus fruits, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.”Follow Dr. Ash on Facebook and InstagramBerries ands strawberries are other food options rich in Vitamin C. Achrekar also recommended Vitamin D foods, such as fish, salmon and dairy products like milk and yogurt.Some plant-based Vitamin D options include mushrooms, orange juice and almond milk. These two vitamins can be paired along with Vitamin B6, according to Achrekar.”Another important one is vitamin B6, which helps the immune system do its job,” Achrekar said. “Garlic is a good source of B6 and also has a natural compound that helps fight germs. You can also get it from chickpeas, various meats, fortified breakfast cereals, potatoes, and bananas.”Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
Colder months amid winter means heightened risk of flu exposure. More than 40 states have reported ‘high’ or ‘very high’ flu activity levels in January.
Certain foods can help boost immune systems to help combat flu infection. Abinash Achrekar, KOAT and University of New Mexico health expert, explains how one vitamin can make an impact.
“Vitamin C helps immune cells find and fight infection and can help shorten colds,” Achrekar said. “The best sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, especially bell peppers, which have even more vitamin C than oranges. Some other good options are citrus fruits, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.”
Follow Dr. Ash on Facebook and Instagram
Berries ands strawberries are other food options rich in Vitamin C. Achrekar also recommended Vitamin D foods, such as fish, salmon and dairy products like milk and yogurt.
Some plant-based Vitamin D options include mushrooms, orange juice and almond milk. These two vitamins can be paired along with Vitamin B6, according to Achrekar.
“Another important one is vitamin B6, which helps the immune system do its job,” Achrekar said. “Garlic is a good source of B6 and also has a natural compound that helps fight germs. You can also get it from chickpeas, various meats, fortified breakfast cereals, potatoes, and bananas.”
Action 7 News On The Go: Download our app for free
