Table 2.

Important dietary constituents which boost the immune system and their food sources.

Dietary constituent	Food source
A. Macronutrients
1. Proteins	Egg white, beef, chicken, milk, dairy products, yogurt, soybeans
2. Lipids	Avocado, Tuna fish, Salmon
3. Carbohydrates	Figs, blueberries, whole-wheat bread
4. Dietary fiber	Lentils, chickpeas, orange
B. Micronutrients
1. Vitamins
i) Vitamin A	Carrots, mango, Salmon, eggs
ii) B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12)	Peanuts, plain yogurt, lentils, Tuna fish
iii) Vitamin C	Oranges, lemon, broccoli, cauliflower
iv) Vitamin D	Chicken, egg, low fat yogurt, Salmon
v) Vitamin E	Sunflower seeds, nuts, almonds, kiwi
2. Minerals
i) Zinc	Nuts, pumpkin seeds, beef, lamb
ii) Selenium	Sunflower seeds, salmon, ham
iii) Iron	Dried apricots, cherry tomatoes, peas
C. Phytochemicals
1. Polyphenols	Oranges, blueberries, strawberries
2. Carotenoids	Tomatoes, spinach, cantaloupe