As winter settles in, our focus turns to strengthening our immune systems naturally. This season encourages us to adopt healthy habits like adequate sleep, staying active despite the cold, and catching some essential sunlight.
Join us as we delve into immune-boosting tips and explore delicious recipes that highlight the nutritional benefits of some of our winter vegetables.
Tips to Boost Your Immune Naturally
Get Enough Sleep: Aim for a solid 6-8 hours each night. Who doesn’t love an excuse to snooze a little longer?
Stay Active: Even a brisk walk helps get your blood pumping and supports your immune system. Plus, it’s a great excuse to enjoy winter scenery.
Catch Some Sun: Despite the chill, try to soak up a bit of sunlight each day. It’s essential for your Vitamin D levels, which play a big role in immune health.
Keep it Clean: Regular hand washing is your best friend against germs. Simple, effective, and keeps those bugs at bay.
Eat Well: Fill up on foods packed with vitamins and antioxidants to give your immune system a natural boost.
Winter Veggies We Love!
Deep vibrant wintery greens, quick to cook and packed with loads of nutrients that are key to keeping you healthy during the flu season. Take, Silverbeet it can be eaten raw through a salad or chopped and included in a lasagne and curries adding fibre, vitamins A and C.
Then there is English Spinach, high in antioxidants, folate and vitamins A, C and K. Easily incorporated into omelettes or enjoy on its own sautéed with sauce and topped with Chilli.
Some of our favourite leafy veg recipes:
A nutritional powerhouse, Kale is a good source of vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins can help support your immune system, promoting healthy vision, skin, and overall immunity.
Enjoy kale raw in salads for a fresh, crunchy bite or sautéed with garlic and olive oil for a simple yet delicious side dish. Kale is also excellent in soups and stews, where it adds both nutrients and heartiness. For a healthy snack, try baking kale into crispy chips. However you use it, kale is a nutrient-packed green!
Some of our favourite Kale recipes:
Loaded with beta-carotene, sweet potatoes are a powerhouse for boosting your immune system. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body, which is essential for maintaining a healthy immune function, promoting good vision, and supporting skin health. Sweet potatoes also provide dietary fibre, which is important for your digestive health.
Sweet Potatoes are versatile in the kitchen—roast them for a delicious side or add to a salad or bake them into crispy fries. You can also add sweet potatoes to soups, stews, and casseroles for a nutritious boost.
Some of our fave Sweet Potato recipes:
This little powerhouse not only adds flavour but also provides immune boosting benefits. Garlic is known for stimulating the production of white blood cells, which play a key role in defending your body against infections.
Whether raw or gently cooked, garlic is a flavorful addition that packs a nutritional punch. Crush garlic into homemade dressings or soups for an easy addition to your meals.
Some of our fave recipes with Garlic:
Ginger aids digestion, soothes nausea, and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It also supports immune function by boosting the production of immune cells to defend against infections.
Whether used fresh, grated into teas and smoothies, or added to stir-fries and soups, ginger adds a zing of flavour and a dose of wellness to your dishes.
Some of our fave recipes with Ginger:
Broccoli is known for its numerous health benefits, being a good source of vitamins C and K, which support immune function and bone health. It also contains fibre, antioxidants, and various other nutrients that contribute to overall wellness.
To get the most out of your broccoli, eat it raw or steamed—too much heat can destroy many of its valuable antioxidants, reducing its health benefits.
Some of our fave Broccoli recipes:
Live fresh! Enjoy.