MSNBC * had an interesting article in their Health section today -- 9 Foods to Eat for Killer Immunity.

Personally, I don't necessarily have enough free time to plan my meals ahead in order to support my immunity. And my cooking skills, to be honest, are a bit lacking. But their suggestions do show that the nutrients we consume can have an impact on our health.

1st food: Yogurt. We know that the probiotics in yogurt are great for supporting gut health. We unknowingly consume bacteria and viruses on a regular basis -- a healthy GI tract keeps potentially harmful material moving right along, while allowing beneficial nutrients to be absorbed. My two favorite probiotics products are Mega Probiotic Plus (chewable and tasty!), and Mega Probiotic ND (great for folks who are lactose intolerant).

2nd food: Sweet Potatoes. Vitamin A supports skin health, and our skin is another big barrier between our bodies and the various germs we encounter on a daily basis. I actually do make roasted sweet potatoes with a bit of garlic oil (yum!), but we do have an option that does not require washing, peeling, cutting, and cooking -- Beta Carotene Soft-Gel Capsules. Not as tasty, but it goes much better with my morning coffee!

3rd food: Tea. Again, I am more of a coffee girl myself, but in this weather I like any tasty, hot beverage. But for those days that I don't want to be wigged out on caffeine, we have a convenient caffeine-free option -- Green Tea Extract Capsules.

4th food: Chicken Noodle Soup. OK, so we don't exactly have chicken noodle soup in capsule form. But one of the beneficial nutrients in chicken noodle soup is the amino acid Cysteine, and we do have a vegetarian capsule that contain Cysteine. N-Acetyl Cysteine is great for supporting lung health, and may help remove mucus from the body.

5th food: Beef. This is a tricky one for those of us who don't eat meat. For vegetarians, there are a lot of nutrients that we have to get a bit creative about working into our diets. This one is a cinch with Zinc Lozenges. Don't worry, they are lemon flavored, not beef flavored.

6th food: Mushrooms. This blog is making me hungry. I love throwing mushrooms in the slow-cooker. Unfortunately, the amount of mushrooms you would need to consume to match the strength of our Maitake-DMG Liquid would likely require you to invest in more than one slow-cooker. My coworkers have been rescued from near cold/flu disasters while on business trips by using the Maitake-DMG Liquid. It combines the benefits of the Maitake Mushroom Extract with our patented DMG for a double-boost to your immune system.

7th food: Fish + Shellfish. I grew up in Boston, and as much as I love Vermont I find it very challenging to find really fresh, delicious seafood this far away from the coast. Frozen fish just isn't the same to me. Besides, women have to be careful about which fish they eat due to mercury issues. Two of the important immune-supporting ingredients in fish are Selenium and Omega 3 fatty acids.

8th food: Garlic. Garlic is delicious and good for you, but has the unfortunate side effect of scaring off coworkers, friends, and loved ones. The article mentions eating 6 cloves a week, which seems a bit daunting. We've got you covered -- we have enteric-coated Garlic Tablets so you can support your immune system without worry.

9th food: Oats & Barley. Oats, particularly oatmeal, is a great excuse to break out the dark brown sugar. But it is also a good source of Beta Glucans, which have immune-supportive properties. We included Beta Glucans in our Immuno-DMG. Immuno-DMG also contains our Maitake Mushroom Extact, in addition to DMG and Beta Glucans.

There are a lot of ways to support your health and immune system. Eating a well-balanced diet is of course an important component, but it is nice to know that there are more options for getting those key nutrients that support specific aspects of our health. The important part of creating a healthy lifestyle is to find a balance that works for YOU!



*MSNBC has no affiliation with Mountain Naturals, nor do they endorse Mountain Naturals products.