Naturally healthy living

A strong immune system is very much on everyone's minds at the moment, and there are many ways that we can boost our immune system through our diet, says Chloe Bowler

As spring is now upon us and the days are getting longer, it is essential to get outside in the fresh air as much as possible. Not only are the benefits of fresh air and exercise great for our heart health, mental wellbeing and overall strength and stamina, but we can also take in some much needed Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is an excellent example of a vital ingredient to our wellbeing. It plays a huge role in muscle and bone formation and strength. As well as sunlight, we can eat it in our diet through foods like oily fish, red meat and egg yolks.

Having been through a cold winter with less daylight hours, now is the time to try to get as much nutrition into your diet as possible. There are so many foods that are delicious and contain a huge variety of vitamins and minerals.

A strong immune system is very much on everyone's minds at the moment, and there are many ways that we can boost our immune system through our diet. Living on an island like Jersey, we are lucky enough to have some of the best shellfish in the world. Oysters are full of zinc, which helps with the production of white blood cells, helping fight infection.

Salmon Teriyaki

Ingredients (serves 2):

2 salmon fillets

2 garlic cloves

1 red chilli

1 savoy cabbage

Garlic is another fabulous food with natural powers. Use raw garlic in your cooking, and you will be giving yourself a boost of a natural infection fighter. Garlic is thought to help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Turmeric is another great example of a naturally-occurring anti-inflammatory food. The main ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, and this is a hugely powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. There is still much research on turmeric and its properties, but it is thought that it can help fight cancer, Alzheimer's, and many more debilitating illnesses.

Brightly coloured foods are often a sign of antiinflammatory properties, so I always say to try and eat the rainbow. By incorporating these foods into your meals at home, you will feel the benefit of these naturally-occurring health boosters.

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Start by heating some oil over a high heat. Add the salmon fillets skin side down, and allow to cook. When the salmon is nearly cooked, chop and add the garlic and as much chilli as you like.

2. Shred the cabbage and add either side of the salmon. This won’t take long to cook. When the cabbage and salmon is cooked, add the soy sauce and honey by drizzling over the salmon. The sauce will thicken and become sticky, so remove the cabbage and place in a bowl, and then add the salmon on top.

3. Drizzle any remaining sauce over the top and serve.