It’s that time of year again. Everyone’s sniffling, coughing, and sneezing. You’re doomed to get a cold (or worse), right?

Not necessarily.

You have some control over whether or not you get sick. Washing your hands regularly, staying away from crowded places, and following local health precautions can all help you stay healthy.

Additionally, eating foods that enhance your immunity can make you less susceptible to an illness.

Let’s clarify something before we go any further. You can’t rely on eating these foods and ignoring other health precautions to stay healthy. Good nutrition is just one part of the equation for bolstering your immune system and staying healthy.

Eat These 5 Foods to Keep Your Immune System Happy

The immune system is amazing. It’s made up of cells, tissues, organs, and proteins that combine their forces to fight off foreign invaders, like bacteria and viruses, that make us ill.

Sticking to a healthy diet of whole foods is an excellent way to keep your immune system healthy. Here are some specific foods to incorporate into your diet this cold and flu season.

1. Citrus fruits

As a kid, your mom might have poured you an oversized glass of orange juice as soon as you sneezed. Well, it turns out there’s some truth to her logic.

Oranges are loaded with vitamin C, an essential vitamin that has been shown to reduce the length of a cold. Instead of guzzling a glass of sugary orange juice, have a whole orange. If oranges aren’t your favorite, you can also get vitamin C from other citrus fruits, like grapefruits, lemons, and limes.

2. Broccoli

This powerful cruciferous vegetable is full of healthy antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. To get the most nutrition out of it, eat broccoli raw or as close to raw as possible. The more you cook broccoli, the fewer nutrients you get.

Steaming seems to be the best way to cook broccoli without losing out on too many nutrients. However, sauteed or roasted broccoli is better than no broccoli at all.

3. Red bell peppers

If you’re more of a veggie lover than a citrus fruit person, you can get your vitamin C from red bell peppers. In fact, you can get more vitamin C out of a red bell pepper than an orange. Eat them plain, with hummus, in an omelet, or on a salad.

4. Green tea

Hot, soothing tea feels good on your sore throat when you’re sick. So, opt for green tea instead of black tea. Researchers have found that green tea can improve the response of t-cells, which can deliver a heightened immune response.

5. Ginger

Add some spice to your hot tea with a hint of ginger. This spice has been shown to support the immune system and elevate its response. For best results, go with fresh ginger, which you can find at your local grocery store.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamin D!

In addition to eating these five foods, make sure you’re getting enough vitamin D this winter.

Vitamin D is critical for supporting your immune system. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t naturally make it. We get most of our vitamin D from the sun, which is in short supply during the winter months.

Not to worry! NutriTots has you covered with our easy-to-take-anywhere vitamin D3 droplets. Our vitamin D formula is safe for everyone, from toddlers to adults. A few drops a day will give your body the immune-boosting vitamin D you need to stay healthy all winter long. Get yours now!