All the nutrition and health improving goodies, you can find in the foods you eat. Of course, this is why you are reading this book – to find out how to eat your way to better natural health, right? So here we go, let’s learn about some of the best foods you can eat to improve your immune system and overall health.
Improve Immune System Foods
Vegetables
So very important for you health, vegetables are one of the major components of your healthy diet. Your body loves veggies and all the nutrition the veggies provide. Dark green and leafy veggies are especially good for your health.
Vegetables can help prevent cancer, fight off all types of diseases, and provide your body with essential nutrition. You should be filling your diet with vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Chinese broccoli, cucumber, kale, lettuce, and many other types of veggies.
 Cartenoids such as carrots, yams, tomatoes, and pumpkins are high in antioxidants and fiber. These veggies are yellow or orange colored. Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, which helps prevent cancer and heart disease among many other diseases. Remember, that antioxidants neutralize the free radicals in your body.
Japanese mushrooms such as Shitake and Maitake mushrooms are found to have anti-aging, and immune boosting capabilities. Studies from Japan have shown that these mushrooms helped reduce tumors and cancers.
Garlic
If you ask me, I would have to say that garlic is definitely the best spice you can use for flavoring and for your health. It’s not only good to use for all types of cooking, it does wonders for you body and immune system. Here are some important functions garlic has:
- Lowers blood fats and blood pressure
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Helps open up clogged arteries
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Helps to eliminate tumors, parasites, and fungal growth
- Lowers your risk for cancer
- Garlic is a powerful antioxidant
One thing you should be careful about when cooking garlic, is that cooking will take away some of garlic’s wonderful abilities. It’s best to cut up your garlic 10 to 15 minutes before cooking, and let them sit, while the enzymes do their work. Having so many health benefits, you can be sure to find many recipes that use garlic in my recipe book.
Cayenne Pepper (red chilies)
For those of you who love spicy food, you’re in luck. Cayenne pepper is well known for its health benefits. Cayenne pepper is also just the same as those regular long and thin red chili peppers.
 These hot peppers improve circulation, and help to increase the absorption speed for the foods you eat with these chilies. They also help stomachaches, cramps, and gas. Capsaicin is a chemical found in these red chilies that relieve pain and itching.
Using a few of these little spicy peppers in your recipes will do your body good. If you’re not used to eating spicy food, you don’t have to use so many that you burn your tongue off. I’m a big spicy food eater, but when I cook, I use just a few to spice up the flavor a little.
You’ll also find that these red chilies are a part of the regular spices I use for cooking. You can buy them in several types – fresh, dried, or grinded. In my vegetarian cookbook, Quick and Easy Chinese Vegetarian Cooking, I included my secret hot sauce recipe that’s made from dried cayenne peppers.
Soybeans
Although well known as an excellent source of protein, soybeans and soy products such as tofu and soy milk also has many other health benefits, such as:
- Lowers cholesterol levels
- Reduce your risk for cancer
- Help prevent osteoporosis
- Improve diabetes
- Lowers your risk for heart disease
Although soy products are well known, it’s just gaining popularity in North America.
Fruits
 You probably already know that all types of fruits are good for you, and they contain many essential nutrients. Dark color fruits are especially high in bioflavonoids and antioxidants. Bioflavonoids are the natural pigment in fruits and veggies, and they’re also called vitamin P. Here’s what bioflavonoids can do:
- Help blood clot.
- Help prevent heart diseases
- Protects again cancer
- Acts as natural antibiotics for your body
- Destroy some bacteria found in foods
- Helps control the free radicals in your body
All types of berries are especially high in bioflavonoids and antioxidants. These include blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries. Other fruits high in bioflavonoids include grapefruits, grapes, oranges, and lemons.
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