Don’t let winter colds and flu keep you from competing at your next run or swimming meet. These key immune-boosting foods will help support your body in the lead up to race day.
Getting ready for race day takes a lot of commitment and training hours, whether you’re running the half or full marathon or you’re taking on a 1-mile swim. One of the best ways to support your body is by making sure you’re eating the right foods to fuel you properly while you’re training.
Get our top high-nutrient food picks that will help keep your immune system firing while you’re training hard this winter. Sports nutritionist and naturopath Kira Sutherland, suggests these three foods that will keep your body performing:
- Blueberries: A great place to start, these berries are high in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants and lower in sugar than many other fruits, they are great to add to smoothies or to have as an afternoon snack. Try our immune boosting Vitamin C Smoothie.
- Garlic: Forget about bad morning breath after a garlic-packed dinner! This bulb from the onion family has been used for centuries to help support the immune system. Research suggests it has immune modulating and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be eaten raw in salads or used when making soups and stir-fries.
- Citrus fruit: Naturally high in vitamin C, which is a great support to the immune system in times of stress and illness. The fruits eaten whole also contain good amounts of fibre which is fantastic for digestive health.
There are many other immune-boosting foods that Sutherland says will keep you on track this training season, easy enough to incorporate into your daily diet.
