Diet and Nutrition Shiitake mushroom is one of the leading foods recommended by Chinese medicine practitioners for enhancing immunity. These brown, beefy-tasting mushrooms are used as a substitute for meat in the Chinese diet. A mushroom and vegetable stir-fry makes the most delicious vegetarian dish. Besides shiitake mushrooms, other foods that are wonderful for our immune systems are garlic, sesame seeds, yogurt, and certain fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in these foods and nutrients and low in fat is very beneficial.
Many Chinese herbs have strong immunity-enhancing effects.
A study conducted at the University of Texas Medical Center in Houston showed that astragalus extracts were able to completely restore the function of immune cells in cancer patients. The immune system can certainly be tonified, or even completely restored, by using this herb. This sweet-tasting root is often sliced and simmered in chicken broth, or cooked with vegetable soup. As effective as astragalus is by itself, Chinese herbal formulas actually achieve a much stronger effect than single herbs. An herbal formula is not only more powerful than a single herb, but can cover a wider range of symptoms.