Food Combinations That Also Boost Immunity
Aside from maybe a little stress baking, everybody seems to have health and immunity on the mind right now. We all know about immune-boosting spices and ingredients (like the Vitamin C found in citrus), but how well your body absorbs these nutrients is also important. More often than not, your body absorbs a nutrient better when paired with another one. Here are some of our fave food combos that take your immunity boosters up a notch!
Vitamin D and Calcium
This is perhaps the oldest known combination in the book. We know calcium is great for bone health, but Vitamin D helps your body absorb dietary calcium better. That’s why most milk is fortified with Vitamin D.
Turmeric and Black Pepper
Turmeric is trending for its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits, but it does you no good if your body doesn’t absorb all that wonderful curcumin, the antioxidant in turmeric that holds all the good stuff. An easy fix: pair it with black pepper!
Spinach and Citrus
Looking for a little more iron in your diet? Iron is an essential nutrient that supports hemoglobin, eliminates fatigue and boosts immune function. Spinach is applauded for its iron-rich qualities. However, the oxalic acid in the spinach makes it a little difficult for the body to absorb the iron in spinach. Pairing it with citrus helps break the iron down, increasing the bioavailability of this important nutrient.
Tomatoes and Olive Oil
We’ve all fallen in love with olive oil and its healthy fats. We’re also privy to the beneficial antioxidant lycopene that’s in tomatoes. Lycopene supports heart health, offers your skin some protection from the sun and is linked with the prevention of certain types of cancer. Luckily, olive oil and tomatoes taste marvelous together! Both cooking tomatoes and eating them with a little bit of olive oil enhances the absorption of lycopene. So drizzle away!
We’re always keeping up with the most nutritious ingredients - and how to pair them - when it comes to our personal chef services. Our weekly meal delivery helps you get healthy, balanced, and immune-boosting meals on the table with no prepping or cooking. Simply heat and serve!