7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

The foods you eat can boost your immune system, too. So ‘tis the perfect season for eating more pumpkin and in-season veggies like beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, onions, spinach, cabbage, eggplant, squash and sweet potatoes! Pumpkins contain a healthy dose of antioxidants, which strengthen your immune system. According to the National Institutes of Health, antioxidants may prevent or delay some types of cell damage, so proper nutrition is essential for your immune system to work well. Pumpkins are rich in vitamins A, E and C, too. One serving contains about 7,000 milligrams of vitamin A, which provides you with about 200 percent of your RDA, or recommended daily allowance, of the vitamin. And don’t forget to eat the seeds! Also called pepitas, pumpkin seeds are rich in phytosterols, which experts say may lower cholesterol. Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids, which are good for heart health.