By Kenlyn Young, LDN, MS, RD, Duke Integrative Medicine.
Our immune system is complex and influenced by diet, sleep, movement, stress reduction, and other lifestyle elements. Currently, 1 in 15 people (1 in 6 for women) is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. This situation, plus the potentially devastating effects that long-haul Covid can have on our immune system, has many of us wondering what we can do to mitigate the negative impact of these diseases on our health.
One of the simplest ways to improve immune health is right at the end of our fork. A balanced diet, full of various colors of the rainbow and high-quality protein, provides our bodies with nutrient-dense phytochemicals that influence every cell in our body, including our immune cells. Reducing fast food, sugar, and ultra-processed foods that lack the nutrients necessary for optimal immune health is essential. Getting back in our gardens and kitchens and reconnecting with our food is a key element of immune health.
Ask yourself, “How are you nourishing your body today?”
Getting back in our gardens and our kitchens and reconnecting with our food is a key element of immune health.
Explore our “Immune Supporting Nutrition” guide curated by Duke Integrative Medicine’s Dietitian Kenlyn Young.
Download our immune-supporting Ingredient Guide
Build an Immune-Supporting Plate
Cook a delicious and immune-supporting meal with this Avocado Lime Salmon recipe
Nutritional counseling can be beneficial whether your goal is to:
To help you achieve your goal, our licensed dietitians consider every aspect of your physical, psychological, and emotional health. Our goal is to help you improve your overall health and well-being.
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Many of us use the beginning of a new year as a time to refocus, set new intentions and establish goals. The Wheel of Health used here at Duke Health & Well-Being is a great tool to contemplate the big picture and the many factors contributing to our well-being. It ...
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