The summertime is slowly beginning to wind down, and it’s no secret that many of us are feeling the effects of all that summer fun. Now is around the time of year that late summer colds begin kicking in, as many of us have put our immune systems to the test.
Around this time of year, it’s essential to take care of your immune system. Before you know it, you’re putting your body through a lot to enjoy some summer fun and travel around. Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to start filling your diet with some immunity-boosting food and prepping for the transition into fall. One of the fastest ways to put together a filling and tasty meal is to use a slow-cooker. So, thanks to some input from holistic health expert Meera Watts, we’ve compiled a list of four yummy slow-cooker meals that include healthy ingredients that can help support your immune system. Read more about them below.
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1. Chicken & Turmeric Soup
Turmeric is known for being an extremely powerful ingredient. Not only does it provide gorgeous color and a herby flavor, but its main compound, curcumin, has notorious anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can do wonders for your immune system. When paired with black pepper to activate it, curcumin can support several bodily functions and make your immunity stronger.
Watts makes this flavorful soup by placing "chopped chicken, garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, carrots, and chicken broth" in a slow cooker and setting it on low for 6-8 hours. You can customize this easy and nutritious soup base any way you'd like. However, Watts mentions that garlic, turmeric, and ginger are especially important if you want to give your immune system a "boost."
2. Lentil & Spinach Stew
Although lentils are tiny, they are an extremely mighty legume, as they pack in a lot of nutrients and vitamins that can easily help boost your immunity and also give you a source of plant-based protein. Spinach is also a notoriously healthy food, and is rich in vitamin C, which is known to help the body fight off infections and protect immune function.
To kick off this easy stew, Watts instructs to "add lentils, spinach, garlic, onions, and vegetable broth to your slow cooker and cook it on low for about 4 hours."
If you want to add another source of protein, you definitely can, but this stew is full of plant-based protein that can easily fill you up. Eat it on its own or as a side dish, and your immune system will thank you.
3. Garlic & Lemon Chicken
Not every slow-cooker meal has to be a soup or stew! You can also customize some of your favorite proteins, like chicken, beef, and pork, with other delicious and healthy ingredients that will cook down and add a lot of flavor over time. This chicken dish is made by placing chicken breasts along with "garlic, slices of lemon, olive oil, and herbs such as thyme and rosemary" in a slow-cooker, according to Watts, and letting them cook on low for six to seven hours.
The chicken will become easy to shred and place on top of rice or other vegetables. Garlic is an underrated food for immunity-boosting power, as when you chew it, it releases a compound that has anti-viral effects.
4. Sweet Potato & Kale Curry
Curry dishes are a super fun way to switch up your weekly meals and add some extra spice into your rotation. They're a lot easier to make in a slow-cooker, and often involve immune-boosting ingredients that add just as many health benefits as they do flavor elements. Watts instructs to make this plant-based curry by placing chopped sweet potatoes, kale, coconut milk, garlic, ginger, and curry spice in your slow-cooker, leaving it on low for six to eight hours.
Sweet potatoes contain beta carotene and vitamin C, which are what give them their bright orange color and immune-system supporting properties. When paired with a healthy, nutritious green vegetable like kale, you create a super-powerful immune-boosting meal.
