A recent article for AARP discusses five great immune-boosting foods to help the public, especially seniors, stay healthy this winter. 

With only 18 days left until spring, it is important to try and finish these last days of winter as healthy as possible. In a recent article for AARP, Julia Maranan discussed five great immune-boosting foods to help the public, especially seniors, stay healthy this winter.

1.      Lean Beef: “It's full of iron and zinc, two nutrients that help protect against infection by bacteria, viruses and parasites.”

2.      Legumes: “Like beef, beans and peas are good sources of immune-boosting iron and zinc, but they're also loaded with vitamin B6, which helps create infection-fighting white blood cells called lymphocytes.”

3.      Mushrooms: “Asian mushrooms — including shiitake and oyster mushrooms — contain beta-glucans, carbohydrates that can spur production of virus-attacking white blood cells.”

4.      Pumpkin: “This seasonal favorite is full of beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A — and that helps create white blood cells to fight infection.”