Beware: cold and flu season has arrived.
Here’s the good news: one of the best ways to maintain a fighting chance against sickness is simply outfitting your body with healthy, immune-boosting meals. Today, eating for your immune system doesn’t have to feel difficult. We’ve rounded up plenty of healthy, nourishing recipes to get you through the winter while also amping up your body’s store of vitamins and minerals and fostering a happy, healthy stomach.
This simple but satisfying winter kale salad is full of yummy, nutritious ingredients. Kale is one of the most nutrient-rich foods on the planet, rich in Vitamin A and Potassium. This salad also offers a healthy dose of pomegranate, an ingredient dense in Vitamin C.
One of the best things about a winter kale salad is the fact that you can pair it with so many dishes! Supplement a hearty dinner with a fresh salad, serve as an appetizer or prepare enough for a full meal. No matter the application, winter kale salad offers a savory combination of fortifying ingredients and fresh taste.
French fries certainly get a bad reputation in modern culture, more often associated with a greasy burger or as an unhealthy side dish, than as a legitimately nutritious dish. Fortunately, this oven-baked sweet potato fries dish puts those worries to bed.
Bright orange sweet potatoes are full of beta-carotene that the body converts to Vitamin A. They are also rich in amino acids that fight off free radicals. There are many ways to enjoy sweet potatoes, but oven fries may be one of our favorites. An easy side dish to just pop into the oven and serve with your favorite sauce or on their own, oven-baked sweet potato fries are a fast fan favorite.
If you know BUBS Naturals, you know that we’re all about that collagen lifestyle. Combine that with natural pumpkin - especially popular in the fall and winter - and you have pumpkin collagen bites. This great gourd is full of vitamins that are important for sustaining a healthy, strong immune system, without delivering any compromising flavors. These little bites also include collagen, which helps your body strengthen the lining of your gut. So what does gut health have to do with the immune system?
Quite a lot, actually. A healthy gut lining keeps out large particles and free radicals that can disrupt the immune system and cause inflammation. Sometimes, whether due to age, diet or autoimmune issues, gaps can occur in the gut lining causing a host of digestive and immune issues. While there are many ways of combating this natural issue, one major defender of the body is collagen, full of amino acids that help restore the gut lining so that it stays healthy and strong.
Here’s a little-known fact: bell peppers offer more Vitamin C than citrus fruits - nearly twice your daily required intake! Enter this dynamite red pepper and sausage bake recipe: equal parts delicious and nutritious, packing some serious flavor alongside immune-boosting ingredients.
The potential is undeniable: red peppers are great in a stir fry or roasted or toasted in a salad. Here, we enjoy red peppers in a sausage bake that is super easy to throw together, using just one pan. Plus, it leaves room to add your other favorite vegetables.
Done right, there’s really nothing like this garlic pesto. Forget the flavor (which is terrific), garlic contains compounds like allicin that help the body fight bacteria and viruses alike. Studies have found that participants who ate garlic supplements every day experienced fewer colds, and rebounded faster from existing cold symptoms.
The way you prepare the garlic for this recipe is important. Studies have found that microwaving garlic can deactivate its immune properties. However, this can be prevented by crushing it and letting it sit for about 10 minutes before cooking or consuming it. Try incorporating your garlic in a pesto which can be used on pasta, meats and vegetables. When used in this pesto recipe, you also don’t risk losing nutrients during the cooking process.
The perfect meal for that gray winter day, this garlic ginger soup recipe helps you improve your immune system and your mood at the same time. The recipe is fully vegan, though feel free to substitute vegetable broth for bone broth for new, bold flavors. And if you don’t happen to have bone broth on hand, you could also mix in collagen to achieve similar benefits for your hair, skin, nails and joints.
Less of a meal recipe, and more of a straight-up boost for your immune system, this citrus ginger immunity shot is everything your immunity is looking for. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits are not only rich in Vitamin C; as a seasonal winter fruit, they are also available abundantly during the months of February and March.
We understand how tempting it can be to start your hunt for immune-boosting liquids in the juice aisle. A word of caution: many juices are not actually the best option for your immune system, given that many bottled options are considerably high in sugar. Instead of hurting health with sugar-packed beverages, opt for an immune-boosting citrus ginger shot. It combines the power of lemons, oranges, ginger and apple cider vinegar into one easy drink. Consider adding a scoop of collagen protein - absorbed well when taken with Vitamin C - into the shot for extra protection.
We know - not everyone lives in sunny Southern California. But if you don’t mind something a little colder come wintertime, this green keto smoothie recipe is one you absolutely need to try.
And if you’re even a mild fan of avocado, you can’t go wrong with a recipe that offers only 5.6 net carbs per glass.
Whether it’s a soup, a sauce or a salad, there are so many creative ways to integrate immune system protection into your everyday diet. Of course, diet alone isn’t always enough to stave off flu and cold symptoms that oftentimes accompany a drop in temperatures. When winter hits, we always suggest supplementing your diet with immune-boosting BUBS Naturals Collagen Protein. Collagen powder is a great addition to soups, sauces, smoothies and even baked goods - especially when the healthy, healing product is entirely flavorless. And if you need collagen alongside fresh flavor, check out our Fountain of Youth Formula - featuring biotin, Vitamin C, and maqui berry.