When we’re looking to boost our immunity and wellness, the first place we should go to is our kitchen.
Think back to the past, when you were young and not feeling well, your parents would make a batch of traditional chicken soup to help your body naturally recover. What about hot lemon and honey for sore throats or a strong cup of ginger tea which can relieve a congested cough or warm you up should you get chills from a fever. All of these recipes and ingredient combinations work to naturally boost immunity and help you feel better.
So, let’s delve a little deeper and see how you and your Thermomix® can help boost your family’s immunity naturally.
One of the greatest pillars for supporting both our gut health, immunity and well-being is to eat a varied, wholefood diet, filled with colorful vegetables and fruit.
Now onto spotlight ingredients and recipes…
These foods add amazing depth of flavor and provide natural healing properites. They come with a whole host of immunity-boosting benefits – they’re naturally anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial and also high in antioxidants, all things we like a lot of when immunity boosting. Here’s the link to our Lemon Ginger Morning Elixir which includes loads of fresh turmeric and ginger!
Take advantage of Vitamin C rich citrus fruits that are in season during the cooler months. When we’re experiencing periods of stress or compromised immunity, Vitamin C is rapidly used by our bodies in our defense, so now is the time to up your intake of Vitamin C.
Think citrus fruits like lemons and oranges but also fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, kiwi, red pepper, pineapple, cabbage, tomatoes and even salad greens such as radicchio which all contain Vitamin C.
It’s beneficial to bear in mind too that Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, light and air and can lose a lot of its potency quickly, so vitamin C containing foods are best consumed raw and as fresh as possible!
Ever needed an excuse to indulge in dark chocolate? Now is your time because it is high in zinc which is a really useful mineral when your body is fighting off viral infections. Other great sources of zinc include all seafood, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, egg yolks and beef.
Try this Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bark
Awareness around the importance of gut health across all areas of our health and well-being is on the rise. Stocking up on friendly bacteria-containing fermented foods and drinks such as natural yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso paste, kefir and kombucha are great additions to your diet. It’s also great to increase your consumption of prebiotic foods such as garlic, onion, leeks, asparagus, oats, flaxseed, and pulses like lentils and beans.
Make some homemade Kimchi in your Thermomix® to have on hand for salads, sandwiches, buddha bowls, Risotto and even using in savory muffins.
Get the recipe for kimchi here.
Every family has their favorite and this is ours.
We are what we eat; our diets can be anti-inflammatory in nature, gut-loving, nourishing, healthful and totally delicious – all factors we can lean on when we are looking to boost our immunity from the inside-out.