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# The Best Foods to Improve Your Immunity
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/070920091216_the_best_foods_to_improve_your_immunity/
- Published: 2009-09-07T12:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:58:01.000Z
- Description: Dr. Mercola lists foods he credits with supporting immunity and the compound behind each: live-culture yogurt, L-theanine in green tea, vitamin C in oranges and bell peppers, sulfur compounds in garlic and broccoli, beta carotene in carrots, beta glucans in mushrooms and barley.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Posted by: [Dr. Mercola](http://articles.mercola.com/members/Dr.-Mercola/default.aspx?ref=foodconsumer.org) 

September 07 2009

Incorporate these healthy foods into your diet to strengthen your immune system in a way your taste buds can appreciate.

  
**Yogurt**

Yogurt that contains live cultures is rich in lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis (good bacteria), which fight bacteria that cause diseases and raise your white blood cell count.

  
**Green Tea**

Green tea is a great source of L-theanine, an amino acid that triggers the release of germ-fighting compounds from your T-cells.

  
**Oranges**

One of the best sources of immunity-boosting vitamin C, oranges cause your body to produce higher levels of antibodies and white blood cells.

  
**Garlic**

Garlic is loaded with ajoene, allicin and thiosulfinates, compounds high in sulfur that ward off diseases and help battle infections.

  
**Carrots**

Carrots are packed with beta carotene, a phytonutrient that increases your body’s production of T-cells and natural killer cells.

  
**Spinach**

The high amount of antioxidants found in spinach help boost your immune system.

  
**Sweet Potatoes**

Like carrots, sweet potatoes are loaded with beta carotene, which boosts your body’s T-cell and NK-cell count.

  
**Mushrooms**

Rich in compounds called beta glucans, mushrooms boost the production of NK-cells and T-cells in your body to help prevent infections.

  
**Kiwi**

Like oranges, kiwis are high in vitamin C, which helps protect your body against infections.

  
**Bell Peppers**

Bell peppers are also packed with vitamin C, which prompts your body to produce more interferon. This antibody covers the surface of cells and fends off viruses.

  
**Broccoli**

Broccoli is a great source of glucosinolates, phytonutrients rich in sulfur that stimulate the natural antioxidant systems in your body.

  
**Barley**

Like mushrooms, barley contains a high amount of beta glucans, known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.