Foods to BOOST Your Immune System

Towards the middle of the school year, I can feel my immune system becoming more and more run down. It gets to the point where sometimes I feel it would be better just to walk around in a haz-mat suit. Schools are like a breeding ground for germs and all kinds of awesome viruses. I find teens like too share our germs with each other and we don't even realize we're doing it! But our lives depend on us functioning as best we can. If we maintain a diverse a diet rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins, that's our best defense. But there are specific foods we can include in our diet to help boost our immune system. So here's the list:

-Yogurt: contains probiotics, healthy bacteria that keeps our stomach and intestinal tract free of germs

-Oats & Barley: contains beta-glucan, that has antioxidant capabilities

-Garlic: contains allicin, which fights infection and bacteria

-Tea: green and black tea contain an amino acid, L-theanine, which is an immune booster

-Sweet Potatoes: contains beta carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, thus helping our skin fight against bacteria and viruses

-Mushrooms: increases the production and activity of white blood cells

-Red Bell Peppers: good source of phyto-chemicals, beta carotene, and vitamin C

-Pumpkin: packed with beta carotene

Keep these foods in mind, when your looking to stay healthy and fight those germs!