Immunity Recipe
200g Prawns (you may substitute with fish, tofu, jackfruit)
1 stalk curry leaves
1 turmeric leaf
10 small ladies fingers, cut into wedges
1 brinjal, cut into wedges
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
5 slices of tamarind fruit
2 tbs of olive oil
Salt to taste
250ml water
Spice Paste/Rempah (blend in food processor)
1 tbs fish curry powder
1 clove garlic
1 stalk of lemongrass white part only, cut cross sectionally
4 shallots
3 tbs chilli powder
2 tbs fish sauce (substitute with soy sauce if vegetarian)
Heat the olive oil in a deep frying pan.
Add the turmeric leaf and curry leaves to the pan and fry for about 1 minute in the oil.
Add the spice paste (rempah) to the pan and cook it over a low heat for 2 minutes (until aromatic).
Add the water, eggplant and assam fruit slices to the pan and bring to a boil.
Let simmer for 10 minutes, until eggplant is cooked.
Add the prawns, ladies fingers and tomatoes and let cook for 5 minutes (until the prawns turn pink).
Season with salt.
The immune system consists of many types of cells in your body that mount a reaction to protect the body against infection and injury. A healthy immune system turns off this reaction when the threat to the body is removed.
However, many the immune system may be inappropriately turned on by many things that we do not consider threatening to our health. This may include food, allergens, and toxins in our food, water, air and environment. A chronically stimulated immune system accounts for chronic inflammation seen in many diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, asthma and autoimmune disease.
While some types of bacteria can cause infections, the bacteria present in our intestines and mouth, lining our nasal passages, skin and reproductive tracts can serve to moderate signals to our immune system, reducing the likelihood of infections, chronic inflammation and allergic reactions. Hormonal changes that arise from ageing, stress, lack of exercise and sleep may also inappropriately signal threat to our immune system.
The limited resources of the immune system leaves it unable to fend off infections or heal properly when it is engaged in inappropriately upregulated activities. The hormone changes associated with a poorly functioning immune system gives rise to symptoms such as tiredness, feeling of stress and being overwhelmed, which we often associate with “poor immunity” and susceptibility to infections.
Diet is important in regulating the immune response. Foods that are highly processed, containing sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated or trans-fat can increase inflammation. Omega-3-fatty acids found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, free-range pasture-fed meat/eggs and dairy are important in reducing inflammation, while omega-6-fatty acids found in vegetable oils drive inflammation.
Dietary antioxidants from colourful vegetables, fruit and spices are important as are plant chemicals, known as phytochemicals, found in cruciferous vegetables and spices in aiding this detoxification process. Protein also aids in the detoxification process thus boosting immunity. Dietary fibre improves the excretion of toxins via the intestines by promoting bowel movements. Fibre is also an important fuel for the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and hence plays an important role in boosting the immunity and reducing chronic inflammation and allergic reactions.