Part of a good recovery for your elderly loved one after he has battled pneumonia is making sure he is eating a healthy diet. He will need to take drugs and follow all of the doctor’s orders of course. You can give him a boost of energy and health by planning out an immune-strengthening menu of foods for him to eat.

Some of the following foods may surprise you by being on this list, but it turns out they are good in keeping the immune system strong and on guard.

  • Yogurt
    • There are live active cultures in yogurt. These are healthy bacteria that stay in the gut and intestinal tract. They work at ridding the body of disease-causing germs. Studies in Austria have found that eating a 7 ounce serving of yogurt every day was equally as effective as taking a pill for immunity boosting.
  • Barley and Oats
    • Who would have thought? The type of fiber contained in these two grains is called beta-glucan, and it has antimicrobial and antioxidant qualities, possibly even more potent than one of the popular herbs – Echinacea.
  • Garlic
    • This one won’t surprise too many people. Garlic contains allicin, a powerful infection fighter and bacteria inhibitor. People on garlic were 67% less likely to contract a cold than those who took a placebo, according to a British study. As an interesting aside, participants who ate six or more cloves of garlic per week had lower rates of colorectal cancer (30%) and lower rates of stomach cancer (50%).
  • Tea
    • Tea provides interferon, a virus-fighting compound. But a person has to drink 5 cups of black tea a day for 2-10 weeks to build up enough immune boosting L-theanine. It is also available in decaf tea and green tea.
  • Chicken soup
    • Just like mom always told you! Actually, the salty broth that chicken was cooked in releases an amino acid which helps keep mucus thin just like cough medicines do. The added spices such as garlic, onions and parsley also add an immune boosting effect. No wonder chicken soup always made you feel better!
  • Sweet potatoes
    • Yes, they are just as good for you as they taste! These sweet little tubers deliver a whopping 40% of your DV for vitamin A (in the form of beta carotene) in just ½ cup serving. If you really like them, eat a whole cupful!

 

If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of home care in Walnut Creek, CA contact the caregivers at Hillendale Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (925) 933-8181 for more information.