Your immune system encompasses many metabolic processes that use a variety of nutrients to keep your body healthy and able to fight "foreign invaders." One of the first ways to keep your immune system in tip-top shape is to eat a well-balanced, varied diet. This is because many foods in a healthy diet provide nutrients that can help keep your immune system at its best. Here are recipes that include a variety of foods and nutrients that can help your immune system in various ways.

Tzatziki is made with strained yogurt, cucumbers and dill. Choose yogurt with live, active cultures as they act as probiotics, which are "good" bacteria that help protect the digestive tract. Research shows that some strains of probiotics can help keep your immune system healthy and promote a healthy digestive tract.

Otherwise known as dal, Aarti Sequeira’s red lentils are cooked down into comfort in a bowl. Lentils are a good source of zinc and vitamin B6, both which play a role in your immune system’s defense. It’s also an excellent source of iron which help creates infection-fighting white blood cells. This dish also includes turmeric, which provides inflammation-fighting phytonutrient curcumin.

Fatty fish like salmon provide omega-3 fats, which have anti-inflammatory properties and can potentially increase the body’s ability to fight off illness. Pair this salmon with antioxidant-filled sweet potatoes and whole grains.

Oats provide beta-glucan, which is a type of fiber that helps produce white blood cells. Your white blood cells help your body fight off foreign invaders that can potentially make you sick. Carrots provide beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that helps fix damaged cells.