As temperatures start to drop, the chances of catching a cold start to rise. And as we enter the holiday season, illness is one thing we can certainly do without. Keeping our immune system in tip-top shape becomes even more crucial during this time of the year as our natural defense against those pesky germs.

Fortunately, making wise food choices can help. To help fight viral and bacterial crime, try incorporating these seven immune-boosting foods into your diet.

01. YOGURT & PROBIOTICS

Take a stroll down the dairy aisle, and you may notice the words Lactobacillus andBifidobacterium on containers of yogurt. While it sounds like gibberish, they happen to be yogurt’s legit claim to fame. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two major strains of “good” bacteria—also known as probiotics—that care about your immunity just as much as you do.

To understand how probiotics give you immune support, let’s take a few steps back. The bacteria found in your gut is also known as intestinal microflora. Trillions reside in the intestinal tract, outnumbering human cells 10 to 1, according to theNational Institutes of Health.

“Gut bacteria’s number one job is to keep our bodies balanced and well,” says Katerina Melekos, RDN, a registered dietitian in New Jersey. The European Molecular Biology Organization also shares that intestinal microflora is responsible for creating the immune response. When your body experiences stress—like a bacterial infection or an injury—your gut bacteria is the first to know. Once it gives your body a signal (like inflammation), your immune system will begin to fight back.

Read the article “7 Surprising Foods That Will Boost Your Immune System This Winter” on verilymag.com.