IMMUNITY BOOSTER
Immunity boosters are those foods which support the body's resistance to infection and strengthen immune vigilance and response.
Recipes that include immune-boosting ingredients are below.
To learn more about how to boost your immunity, click the icon.
April 23, 2024
This hearty, filling salad has a nice mix of textures thanks to the chewy grains, crunchy raw vegetables, and soft-cooked vegetables. The vinaigrette and dried golden berries add a sweet-sour tang. You can chill this salad for an hour or two to let the flavors blend, but I typically serve it right away. BENEFITS: Whole grains like brown rice, wild rice, and quinoa provide detoxifying fiber, which keeps you feeling full to help you lose weight. Quinoa and wild rice are good sources of Omega-3s, which keep your skin looking fresh and youthful. Golden berries and red bell peppers contain […]
March 12, 2024
Savory Vegan Mushroom Soup Mushroom soup is a fall and winter favorite but now you can make a light, healthy version low in calories and fat yet packed with flavor and nutrients. Whole food ingredients like detoxifying mushrooms, onion and garlic make the base for this simple soup you can make in minutes. Vegetable broth and the secret ingredient, rolled oats, blend together to create a creamy smooth, savory soup. Every ingredient in this recipe lends itself to health; mushrooms in particular are packed with immune boosting compounds called beta-glucans and are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Excellent […]
February 26, 2024
Shrimp and tomatoes are a very Mediterranean combination. I use soy sauce in place of salt and add Worcestershire sauce to create a nice depth of flavor. You’ll get selenium from the shrimp, allicin from the garlic, and lycopene from the tomatoes. Serves 2 Ingredients 3 Tbs. olive oil 1 Tbs. chopped garlic 1 cup chopped onion 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce 2 tsp. soy sauce 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 3⁄4 lb. peeled shrimp (devein, if desired) Chopped parsley as garnish Chopped chives as garnish Procedure Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add […]
February 26, 2024
Even though the calendar (and the groundhog) says we’re less than six weeks from spring, we’re still in the middle of cold, flu, and Covid season. It’s important to boost your immune system to help ward off these nagging afflictions. It’s much easier to keep them at bay than to fight them off once they’ve settled in. If you haven’t already, you should read the article by our contributing writer and nutritionist Ginger Hultin. It provides in-depth descriptions of foods that contain vitamins, minerals, and compounds that help your body fight diseases. These FoodTrients can be found in delicious recipes […]
February 26, 2024
Cornish Game Hen and Brown Rice Stew This thick and hearty stew is my take on the classic Asian chicken soup. The brown rice makes it even healthier thanks to its high-fiber, selenium-rich properties. Feel free to add carrots, celery, or spinach to the mix. Add hard vegetables earlier in the cooking process and greens or herbs later. I like to soak the brown rice overnight before cooking it. This shortens the cooking time by about 20 minutes. Serves 4-8 Ingredients 1 inch peeled gingerroot 1 Tbs. canola oil 1⁄4 cup chopped onion 1 whole Cornish game hen, cut into […]
February 13, 2024
Apple Barley Salad Barley is a great source of detoxifying fiber, B vitamins, and selenium. I pair it with apples in this bright, crunchy salad. For the corn kernels, I prefer fresh-roasted corn, but you can use thawed frozen corn kernels, too. The apples can be any variety or color that you like, or even a combination. All apples contain quercetin, a compound that helps support the immune system, thereby “keeping the doctor away.” Raisins provide antioxidants and resveratrol, the same heart-healthy compound found in red wine. My Honey-Lime Dressing increases the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunity-boosting components of this recipe. […]
January 31, 2024
This recipe uses a procedure that allows you to create smoked fish at home without using a smoker. Though it takes approximately 6 hours to brine, marinate, and bake the fish, it does not require considerable effort. The secret ingredient is hickory-flavored liquid smoke. Leaving the bones in the fish keeps it firm while it’s “smoking.” Serves 4-6 Ingredients 4 lb. fresh trout, salmon, or mackerel, cleaned and gutted 1 cup kosher salt dissolved in 4 cups water 1 cup olive oil 1⁄4 cup hickory-flavored liquid smoke Lemon slices as garnish Rock salt (optional) Fresh herbs (optional) Procedures Leave […]
January 31, 2024
Lobster not only tastes delicious, but its succulent flesh is loaded with Omega-3s, selenium, zinc, and B vitamins, which protect the brain and fight against cancer cells. The olive oil mayonnaise brings additional anti-inflammatory benefits while helping to prevent the tender lobster meat from drying out in the oven. Serves 2 Ingredients 2 lobster tails Sea salt and ground pepper to taste 2 Tbs. lemon juice (about 1 lemon) 1–2 Tbs. olive oil mayonnaise 1 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese Lemon wedges as garnish Chopped parsley as garnish Procedure Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the lobster tails shell side […]
January 30, 2024
An ounce or two of turmeric juice mixed with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice makes a healthy and refreshing beverage. The turmeric and vitamin C in the orange juice double the antioxidant power of this drink. Turmeric also helps reduce inflammation. Serves 2 Ingredients 2 recipes Fresh Turmeric Juice (see FoodTrients recipe) 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice Crushed ice (optional) Procedure Combine the Fresh Turmeric Juice and orange juice and divide equally between 2 glasses. Serve at room temperature or over crushed ice, if desired. FoodTrients Curcumin Quercetin Vitamin C
November 6, 2023
Rosemary Apple Dessert Bars Cookies and pies abound during the winter holidays so why not mix things up with naturally sweet apple bars as a unique alternative? The crumbly top offers a familiar texture while the presence of rosemary and lemon blended with apples provides a flavor profile your guests won’t be expecting. Use a tart, firm apple like Fuji or Granny Smith. Cut these bars up and gift them in a festive tin or on a plate wrapped with a bow to celebrate time together with family and friends in a healthier way and without another trip to the […]
October 11, 2023
Chicken Fajitas Fajitas are a perfect party or family food because they can be assembled by your diners and the ingredients can be kept hot for an hour or two in a chafing dish. I use three different colors of bell pepper for eye appeal, but you can use only one. You can use other vegetables, such as mushrooms, scallions, zucchini, or even kale, cut long and thin. The cayenne pepper adds a little heat, which you can adjust to your preference. Chicken is an excellent source of lean protein. It also has detoxifying selenium as well as lysine, which […]
September 24, 2023
Pear and Apple Tart In this dessert, I take the recipe for the classic French dessert tarte tatin–with its quercetin-containing apples–and add pears for their copper content and pecans and cinnamon, which are high in antioxidants. It is worth noting that when used in sufficient amounts, cinnamon also has anti-blood-clotting agents and anti-inflammatory properties and may help stabilize blood sugar levels. SERVES 6-8 Ingredients 6 Tbs. butter, cut into small pieces 1/2 cup sugar, combined with 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 4 apples (Braeburn, Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and cut in half 2 pears (Bosc), peeled, cored, and […]
July 4, 2023
Almond Blueberry Gelatin Parfaits The flavors and colors of the almond and blueberry gelatins play off each other beautifully in this dessert. Benefits: Blueberries rank very high in their ability to fight free oxygen radicals that damage cells. They also contain vitamin C and antibacterial elements called anthocyanosides, which are great for maintaining vein health and your immune system. Almond milk is an excellent source of antioxidants. SERVES 6 Ingredients For Blueberry Gelatin 2 cups blueberry juice 2 envelopes (1 oz. each) unflavored gelatin ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp. lemon zest ½ cup chopped fresh blueberries For Almond Gelatin […]