Acai and Flu Protection
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009There is a particularly high level of concern as we enter flu season this year because of the H1N1 influenza virus. In addition to vaccines and handwashing, what can we do to protect ourselves?
Good nutrition is an essential part of maintaining immunity. Consuming foods with high levels of antioxidants (aka superfoods) like the acai berry are said to somehow protect the immune system. That is not exactly the case.
Foods such as acai berries, blueberries and pomegranates do help the immune system with their antioxidants. However, it is still important to have at least 5 servings a day of both fruits and vegetables per day, in addition to acai juice or supplements.
It’s not that antioxidants won’t give you a little extra boost, experts say.
“Antioxidants as a class have specific effects in enhancing the immune system,” says professor Jeffrey Blumberg of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science at Tufts University. “But it’s a complex system. You also need a lot of other things to have good nutrition.”
“The bottom line is that to have good immunity, you have to eat a variety of foods,” says Sherry Mahoney, director of nutrition for the Mayo Clinic, Florida. “Chronic dieters who omit a food group omit needed vitamins and minerals.”
Antioxidants may help, but not by themselves – Diet & Nutrition – MiamiHerald.com.
