Health Tip: Help Boost Your Immune System

(HealthDay News) -- Eating a healthy diet can help strengthen your immune system to ward off illness.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends these nutrients and foods:

• Protein to help the body defend itself. Sources include eggs, soy, unsalted seeds and nuts, lean meats, seafood, poultry, beans and peas.
• Vitamin A to promote healthy skin and tissues. Sources include kale, spinach, red peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots, eggs, apricots and foods marked as fortified with vitamin A.
• Vitamin C to help create antibodies. Sources include tangerines, oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, papaya, strawberries, red bell peppers, tomato juice and vitamin C-fortified foods.
• Vitamin E, found in vegetable oils, peanut butter, spinach, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds and vitamin E-fortified foods.
• Zinc, which helps with immune system function, via beans, nuts, milk, whole grains, poultry, seafood and lean meats.