2 Foods to Try Right Now to Boost Your Immune System

Medicine doesn't need to be boring. I always believe that sometimes the best tasting things are also the most healing. For example, I love a nice immune boosting soup when I feel as if I am going down with something. I also tend to crave elderberries when I know my body needs an extra boost.

So, I thought I'd share my two favorite foods for boosting the immune system. Staying healthy and preventing cold isn't always about popping vitamins and pills and drinking teas. Food can taste good and still be medicinal!

Immune Boosting Soup

What makes a soup good for the immune system? For me, it's the herbs that I put in it! Classic immune boosting soups feature tried and true ingredients such as onions, garlic, and ginger. I usually go one step further and add a bit of chopped ginseng and plenty of oregano and basil for flavor.

To make the soup, chop up some onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. Sauté the vegetables in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Add chopped ginger and ginseng and sauté for another few minutes. Add chicken broth and anything else you want such as chicken, noodles, or more vegetables. Sprinkle dried oregano and basil over the top (about 1 tsp. of each). Simmer over low heat until soft.

Elderberry - A Classic Cold and Flu Remedy

Elderberries are a classic European remedy for colds and flu, particular for coughs and for the immune system. In fact, the extract has been getting a lot of press lately for its action against swine flu. It has been shown to kill the swine flu virus in the laboratory.

I find the berry to be quite tasty and you can regularly find the juice in the markets where I live in Germany. Can't find the juice? In the United States you can obtain the syrup and sometimes even the preserves in health food stores.

My favorite use for it is to eat the preserves. I like to use this in place of grape jelly for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Also, if my body is really craving it I tend to eat it right out of the jar. If you can't find any of these elderberry products where you are, you can always order it online.

Remember that taking "medicine" doesn't always need to be painful. These two foods can be quite tasty and should be in your arsenal when trying to combat colds and the flu.