5 Local Foods that Boost Immune System

Feeding your body certain foods may help keep your immune system strong. If you're looking for ways to prevent colds, the flu, and other infections, your first step should be a visit to your local store. Most of these fruits are seen in our local market daily but many don't know their importance to our health.

These are the five selected food that help to boost the body immune system.

1. Citrus fruits (Citrus spp)

Most people turn straight to vitamin C after they've caught a cold or not feeling well. That's because it helps build up immune system. Vitamin C is believe to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections.

Almost all citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. With such a variety to choose from, it's easy to add a squeeze of this vitamin to any meal.

Popular citrus fruits include:

Grape (eso ajara)

Oranges (òsan)

Tangerines (òsan oyinbo)

Limes (Oronbo wewe) 

Because body doesn't produce or store it, you need daily vitamin C for continued health.

keep in mind that while vitamin C might help you recover from a cold quicker, there's no evidence yet that it's effective against the new coronavirus, Covid-19.

2. Red Bell Pepper - Tatashe (Capsicum annum)

Red bell pepper comes in different colours, but the defining characteristics of the Nigerian Tatashe are the distinct red colour, and the elongated, shape. 

It contains almost 3 times as much vitamin C found in Orange.

They're also a rich source of beta carotene (a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially carrots and colorful vegetables). 

Besides boosting immune system, vitamin C may help you maintain healthy skin. Beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A, helps keep your eyes and skin healthy.

3. Ginger - Ata-ile (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger is another ingredient many turn to after getting sick. Ginger may help decrease inflammation, which can help reduce a sore throat and inflammatory illnesses. Ginger may help with nausea as well.

While it's used in many sweet desserts, ginger packs some heat in the form of gingerol, a relative of capsaicin.

4. Spinach - Amunututu (Spinacia oleracea)

Spinach is also packed with numerous antioxidants and beta carotene, which may both increase the infection-fighting ability of our immune systems. Many people mistaken spinach for water leaf, spinach has a thick and broad leaf unlike water leaf.

spinach is healthiest when it's cooked as little as possible so that it retains its nutrients. However, light cooking makes it easier to absorb the vitamin A and allows other nutrients to be released from oxalic acid, an antinutrient. 

5. Pawpaw - Ibepe (Carica papaya)

Pawpaw is another fruit loaded with vitamin C. It also have a digestive enzyme called papain that has anti-inflammatory effects. Papayas have decent amounts of potassium, magnesium, and folate, all of which are beneficial to your overall health.

Eating right is a great start, and there are other things you can do to protect you and your family from the flu, cold, and other illnesses.

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Amazing Benefits Of Papaya Leaf Juice for Skin, Hair And Health

Botanical name: carica papaya

What is pawpaw?

 Paw Paw (papaya) is a fruit that grows in
tropical areas throughout the world and is easily available throughout Australia. Most Australians enjoy paw paw simply because it is delicious, but research is showing that the
health benefits of paw paw may be even greater than it's delicious taste. In fact, paw paw and paw paw derived products are used
for a variety of medicinal and therapeutic
purposes both by natural health practitioners
and in conventional medicine.

These are just some of the major vitamins and minerals found in large quantities in paw paw:
     • dietary fiber
          • folate
               • vitamin A, C and E.
                     • calcium, iron and niacine.

In short, the benefits of paw paw are potentially enormous. Both the natural fruit and natural paw paw supplements can be of benefit. While many health care professionals recommend consulting a holistic doctor with knowledge of both natural and conventional medicine for existing or suspected diseases, taken regularly, paw paw may play a vital role in preventing those diseases from occurring.

•• Benefits Of Papaya Leaf Juice For Skin, Hair, And Healths

How to Make Papaya Leaf Juice?

Since the papaya leaf juice is quite bitter in
taste, it can be combined with other fruit juices.
You can prepare papaya leaf juice at home by
following the given steps:

     • Take several medium sized papay leaves
       which are washed and partly dried.
       Cut them and place them in a sauce pan
       with around 2 liters of water.
     • Boil the water and leaves, and skimmer
       without a lid until the water is reduced
       to half.
     • Now strain the liquid and store it in
       glass containers. It can be refrigerated
       and stored for 3 to 4 days. But fresh juice
       is always preferable.
     • The juice should be discarded if it
       becomes cloudy.
     • Alternatively, the juice can be squeezed by
       crushing the papaya leaves after removing
       the stems and other fibrous parts.

Although this juice is extremely beneficial, it
should particularly be avoided by pregnant
women as it may induce abortion. Moreover, it
should not be consumed with any thyroid
stimulators or Co-enzyme Q10.

Health Benefits of Papaya Leaf Juice:

Papaya leaf juice has proven to be effective in curing dengue fever. It offers a host of other health benefits. Some of the health benefits of papaya leaf juice are as follows:

1. Dengue is a deadly disease caused by dengue virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. This disease can be fatal at times and is characterized by symptoms such as high fever with headache, severe muscle pain, joint pain, red rashes on the body that can cause itching and a drastic drop in platelets count. So far no specific medicine has been formulated for this disease. Painkillers like Aspirin and Ibuprofen have their own side effects. Papaya leaf juice is a traditional method of curing dengue fever without posing any side effects. Scientific
research indicated that papaya leaf juice contains the enzymes chymopapin and papain that boost platelets.
Pharmaceutical companies are already
using papaya leaf extract preparations in the
form of capsules and liquid formulas.

2. Papaya leaf has been found to possess anti-
malarial properties as well. Thus, papaya leaf
juice is often used in some parts of the world as a prophylactic for preventing malaria in certain endemic regions.

3. Papaya leaves contain important nutrients
such as vitamins A, B1, C and E, calories,
protein, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron and water. Pleaf juice has an important enzyme called papain that aids in digestion by breaking down the proteins naturally.

4. Another amazing benefit of papaya leaf juice is its ability to fight viral infection such as the common cold virus. It is a natural way of
regenerating white blood cells and platelets.
Papaya leaves contain over 50 ingredients
including the vitamins A, C and E that support
the immune system.

Skin Benefits of Papaya Juice

Papaya fruit is great for your skin and is
incorporated in several face packs and skin care products to give you a healthy and glowing skin.
Apart from the fruit, papaya leaf juice is
beneficial for the skin in the following ways.

5. Papaya leaf juice has a higher content of
vitamins A and C in comparison to the fruit,
which promote skin health.

6. Papaya leaf juice acts as a skin cleansing
agent. This can be attributed to the presence of
karpain compounds that inhibit microorganism
and other toxins, thus giving you a clear skin
and providing protection against skin problems
like pimples, freckles and blemishes.

7. Juice of papaya leaves is effective in treating
eczema. You can apply it on your affected areas
after scrubbing.

8. Fresh papaya leaf juice helps in healing open
wounds and sores.

Hair Benefits of Papaya Leaf Juice

Due to the abundance of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, papaya leaf extract is often used in a number of hair care formulations like shampoos and conditioners to promote hair growth, strengthen the hair shaft and ward off problems like balding, thinning, dandruff etc.

Papaya leaf juice has the following benefits for hair:
9. Papaya leaf juice is often used by health
care stores or salons for hair treatment. When
used as a conditioner along with other ingredients like coconut milk and honey, it adds shine to dull, lifeless hair and softens coarse and unruly hair.

10. Papaya leaf extract is particularly used as an ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos meant to control flakes and prevent dandruff. Due to the presence of karpain compounds, it is effective in removing dirt and oil, as well as chemical build up from hair without any side effects.

Thanks for reading. Hope you gain something from this? Please drop your comment below.

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