To boost your immune system go for blueberries and red grapes

For the past decade, nutrition scientists have known that certain whole foods that are consumed in their natural and unprocessed forms promote vibrant health by stimulating the innate immune response system, while virtually all refined foods and hydrogenated fats promote disease. Extensive research studies have determined that protective compounds that protect plants from disease can have a similar effect when eaten by humans.

The study
A new study has found that chemicals in red grapes and blueberries may boost your body’s immune system. Researchers from Oregon State University looked at the impact of 446 different chemicals on the human immune system.
The findings showed that two compounds, resveratrol found in red grapes and pterostilbene found in blueberries, when combined with vitamin D, could boost the body’s ability to fend off illness.


Compounds in blueberries and red grapes worked in synergy with vitamin D
Resveratrol has been the subject of dozens of studies for a range of possible benefits, from improving cardiovascular health to fighting cancer and reducing inflammation.
"Out of a study of hundreds of compounds, just these two popped right out," said lead researcher Adrian Gombart. "Their synergy with vitamin D ... was significant and intriguing. It's a pretty interesting interaction." Resveratrol and pterostilbene are known as stilbenoids.

These compounds worked in synergy with vitamin D and had a significant impact in raising the expression of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, or CAMP gene, that is involved in immune function, the researchers explained.

Resveratrol and pterostilbene are compounds produced by plants to fight infections, and in human biology appear to affect some of the signaling pathways that allow vitamin D to do its job, researchers said. It appears that combining these compounds with vitamin D has considerably more biological impact than any of them would separately.

Bottom line
Continued research could lead to a better understanding of how diet and nutrition affect immune function, and possibly lead to the development of therapeutically useful natural compounds that could boost the innate immune response, the researchers said in their report.
If you are a health-minded person, think about eating three to five servings of red grapes and blueberries each week to boost immune health and fight immune-deficient disease proliferation.



Need some ideas? Here's a good one to start your day...

Fruity green tea smoothie recipe

Servings: 2; Total Time: 15 mins - Prep Time: 10 mins - Cook Time:  5 mins

Ingredients

1 peach, cut up
1 apple, cut up
1 cup frozen grapes (red seedless)
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup green tea (hot)
 

Directions
Brew Green tea in boiling water, steep for 3-5 minutes. Remove tea bags and place all the fruit in the blender and pour in the hot tea. Blend until smooth.

Nutrition facts per serving (261 g): Calories 261.3; Calories from Fat 6; Total Fat 0.7g; Saturated Fat 0.0g; Cholesterol 0.0mg; Sugars 53.9 g; Sodium 6.7mg; Total Carbohydrate 69.0g; Dietary Fiber 9.1g; Sugars 53.9 g; Protein 2.3g


Sources: http://oregonstate.edu/ua/, http://www.naturalnews.com/, http://www.sciencenewsline.com/, http://www.medicaldaily.com/, http://www.food.com/recipe/