What are a Few Immune Support Ingredients You Can Add to Your Recipes this Winter Season?

Author: Angela Trotter, M.S., CNS, AFMCP, Clinical Functional Nutritionist

The ultimate goal when attempting to achieve optimal immune health is to have a well-balanced immune system that responds appropriately when challenged. Consuming foods that have immunomodulatory effects can be powerful ways to support this process.

1) Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

• This powerful spice can attribute its medicinal affects to curcumin
• When combining the piperine in black pepper with the curcumin in turmeric, it enhances curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%. So be sure to add the black pepper for increased impact.
• Contains Anti-Inflammatory properties, and shown to play a role in inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
• Shown to have Immunomodulatory effects
• As an antioxidant, it can reduce the damaging effects of oxidative stress

2) Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

• Shown to possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial that make it an excellent immune supporting spice
• Shown effective against upper respiratory tract infections due to its anti-viral properties.
• Potential to prevent or manage several diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, support nausea from chemotherapy treatments or motion sickness

**As with all things, we are all uniquely different.  If you notice an adverse response to turmeric, or ginger make a note and find a nutritionist to help you work out your specific reaction(s).

Author: Angela Trotter, M.S., CNS, AFMCP, Clinical Functional Nutritionist

*Please Note: The information provided on or through this website or blog is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. Engaging with this material does not constitute a client/therapist relationship*