Pumping Up with Sai Foods to boost your immune system

Article by Sai Gopalan

Pumping Up is a column about health, fitness, and how you can maintain it in boozy, greasy Xi’an.

Hey fellow “pumpers”! In this month’s edition I decided to focus on natural foods that we can throw in to our diet that actually strengthen our immune system and reduce our risk for serious illness. Not only are they healthy, but they are also great for our weight and dietary goals. Here’s a little list I made with a few helpful hints and the benefits of each:

Healthy Food #1:
Lemons

Why They’re Healthy:
— Just one lemon has more than 100 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C, which may help increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels and strengthen bones.
— Citrus flavonoids found in lemons may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and act as an anti-inflammatory.
Quick Tip:
Add a slice of lemon to your green tea. One study found that citrus increases your body’s ability to absorb the antioxidants in the tea by about 80 percent.

Healthy Food #2:
Broccoli

Why It’s Healthy:
— One medium stalk of broccoli contains more than 100 percent of your daily vitamin K requirement and almost 200 percent of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C — two essential bone-building nutrients.
— The same serving also helps stave off numerous cancers.
Quick Tip:
Zap it! Preserve up to 90 percent of broccoli’s vitamin C by microwaving (Steaming or boiling holds on to just 66 percent).

Healthy Food #3:
Dark Chocolate

Why It’s Healthy:
— Just one-fourth of an ounce daily can reduce blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals.
— Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase “good” HDL levels.
Quick Tip:
A dark chocolate bar contains about 53.5 milligrams of flavonoids; a milk chocolate bar has fewer than 14.

Healthy Food #5:
Salmon

Why It’s Healthy:
— A great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to a reduced risk of depression, heart disease, and cancer.
— A 3-ounce serving contains almost 50 percent of your daily dose of niacin, which studies suggest may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss.

Healthy Food #7:
Spinach

Why It’s Healthy:
— Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two immune-boosting antioxidants important for eye health.
— Recent research found that among cancer-fighting fruits and veggies, spinach is one of the most effective.
Quick Tip:
Spinach is a healthy — and flavorless — addition to any smoothie. You won’t taste it, we promise! Try blending 1 cup spinach, 1 cup grated carrots, 1 banana, 1 cup apple juice, and ice.

Healthy Food #8:
Garlic

Why It’s Healthy:
— Garlic is a powerful disease fighter that can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including E. coli.
— Allicin, a compound found in garlic, works as a potent anti-inflammatory and has been shown to help lower cholesterol and blood-pressure levels.
Quick Tip:
Crushed fresh garlic releases the most allicin. Just don’t overcook; garlic exposed to high heat for more than 10 minutes loses important nutrients.

Healthy Food #9:
Avocados

Why They’re Healthy:
— Rich in healthy, satisfying fats proven in one study to lower cholesterol by about 22 percent.
— One has more than half the fiber and 40 percent of the folate you need daily, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.
Quick Tip:
Adding it to your salad can increase the absorption of key nutrients like beta-carotene by three to five times compared with salads without this superfood.

So there we have it folks. Of course we all have different bodies and immune systems and the effects will work differently from person to person. Also having these doesn’t necessarily mean you are safe from all these illnesses but it has been found to decrease your risk of obtaining them. Hope this helps you in creating the best version of yourself.

Saien Gopalan is a South African English teacher currently teaching at EF. He has been living in Xi’an for 2 years and enjoys his off days exploring the Xi’an nightlife and of course, going to the gym.