By feeding your immune system with the right foods, you are able to improve its ability to fight off colds and the flu. The immune system works closely with white blood cells to fight off infections. When you have a healthy white blood cell count, it should be about 5,000-10,000 cells per microliter of blood. Neutropenia is when you have a count that is less than 3,500. There are ways to increase white blood cells which improves your chance of fighting off infections. What you eat is a huge consideration in how knowing how to increase white blood cells and stay healthy.
Foods That Help Increase White Blood Cells
Vitamin C
Including many vitamins in your diet, with Vitamin C being one of the most essential, helps to increase white blood cells. Foods rich in vitamin C include chili, and green and red peppers. Broccoli has not just vitamin C to increase white blood cells, but also vitamins A and E, along with many antioxidants.
Zinc
Zinc is a well known immune booster and is connected with the production of white blood cells. Studies show a zinc deficiency can increase your risk of infections. Foods rich in zinc include oysters, beef, wheat germ and spinach.
Folic Acid
Your body needs folic acid in order to produce white blood cells. Foods rich in folic acid include: spinach, beans, and citrus fruits.
Selenium
Selenium can also build up your white blood cells and can be found in cod, beef, tuna, salmon and chicken. Also at the top of the list are Brazil nuts, along with Pinto beans.
Beta Carotene
This helps protect the immune system, namely the thymus gland. Foods containing Beta Carotene strengthen the production of white blood cells and have the ability to fight off infection when ingested daily. Foods containing Beta Carotene include: carrots, pumpkin, tomatoes and dark-green leafy vegetables.
Garlic is in a class by itself as it has the ability to fight infections thanks to it’s immune-boosting properties. These are due to a heavy concentration of sulfer-containing compounds like allicin in garlic.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice often used in curry. It has long been used as an anti-inflammatory to ease pain in both types of arthritis. The concentration of curcumin has shown to assist in the reduction of inflammation and fever.
Kale
Just one cup of kale give you all the vitamin A you need in a day. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that assists the body in fighting cancer cells. It is a key ingredient in increasing white blood cells. It not only aids in the formation of white blood cells but also assists antibodies in responding to invasive infections.
Yogurt
Yogurt helps to increase white bloods cells by assisting the body in producing antibodies along with strengthening white blood cells.
Tasty Meals to Increase White Blood Cells
Mixed Green Salad with Oranges, Dried Cranberries and Pecans
This tasty salad includes three oranges along with baby greens and pecans. The orange offers necessary vitamin C to increase white blood cells and the baby greens contain Beta Carotene, a great immune booster.
This soup is packed with up to 50 cloves of garlic. Garlic has been used medicinally for over 5,000 years for its ability to fight infections.
Packed with carrots, peppers and tomatoes it is an excellent source of Beta Carotene and vitamin C. A delicious way to increase your white blood cell count.
Chilies have a lot of vitamin C in them which are said to increase white blood cells. Use pinto beans in this recipe in order to get your source of selenium too.
Kale is a power food and contains the necessary vitamin A to fight off infections. These tasty chips are also a great way to curb snacking on bad foods that are counteractive to boosting your immune system.
