In the pursuit of health and prevention of infection, many people are caught in the wrong zone: a single diet can significantly increase immunity from infection. This perception has led many people blindly to the so-called “super-food” and to the expectation that one food will protect themselves from all kinds of disease, which is not the case.
Increased immunity is a complex biological process that requires a multi-nutrient synergy rather than a single-food undertaking that can be achieved on its own. The human immune system depends on an adequate supply of a wide range of nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. For example, proteins are the basic substances that make up immune cells and antibodies. The body needs to ingestion sufficient high-quality proteins, such as skinny meat, fish, beans, eggs, milk, etc., to ensure the normal generation and renewal of immune cells. If only one food, such as large amounts of fruit, were to be fed without protein intake, the synthesis of immunocellular cells would be limited and the functioning of the immune system would inevitably be severely compromised.
Vitamins also play an indispensable role in immunization regulation. Vitamin C is resistant to oxidation and protects immunocellular cells from free radical damage, promotes white cell activity and enhances body resistance to infection. Many people believe that increased consumption of vitamin C-rich fruit, such as oranges, can significantly increase immunity, while ignoring the importance of other vitamins. Vitamin A is essential to maintain the integrity of mucous membrane cells such as respiratory and digestive tracts, and the lack of vitamin A makes these mucous membrane barriers vulnerable and pathogens more vulnerable to human intrusion. Vitamin D, on the other hand, promotes calcium absorption, and it also plays an important role in regulating the functioning of immunocells, which enhances the ability of giants to swallow, activates T lymphocytes, etc. These vitamins are widely found in different foods, such as animal livers, fish liver oils with vitamins A and D, and vegetables and fruits are important sources of vitamin C. A single food alone cannot fully meet the body ‘ s demand for vitamins.
Minerals are also an important safeguard for the proper functioning of the immune system. Zinc is involved in the development, fragmentation and functional regulation of immunocellular cells, and Zinc deficiency leads to low immune function and vulnerability to infection. Iron is critical to the synthesis of haemoglobins and to the energy metabolism of immunocellular cells, which can cause anaemia while also reducing immune functions. These minerals are distributed among various foods, such as meat, seafood, nuts, whole grains, etc. Focusing on one food alone may result in a shortage of other minerals, thus affecting the balance and effectiveness of the entire immune system.
In addition, some “star foods”, such as garlic and chrysanthemum, which are considered to increase immunity, although they have some health effects, cannot alone achieve a significant increase in immunity. Garlic contains garlic that is anti-bacterial, anti-virus, etc., but it is only one of the many immuno-regulating substances that cannot replace other nutrients. In traditional medicine, Ling Chi is considered to be effective in enhancing health, but its impact on the immune system is multifaceted and needs to be combined with overall dietary nutrition to achieve better results.
Single foods do not provide all the nutrients needed for the immune system, and it is difficult to significantly increase immunity against infection. We should develop the right diets, focus on a balanced diet, rationalize the mix of foods, including cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, etc., and ensure the ingestion of abundant nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins and minerals, in order to provide the immune system with sufficient “ammunition” to enable it to perform its best defensive function, effectively prevent infection and safeguard its health.
