(NaturalNews) Foods that have an incredible array of health benefits that go well beyond just their nutrient value are considered "superfoods." These foods are typically loaded with a combination of critical fatty acids, antioxidant phytonutrients and essential amino acids. Coconut, grass-fed butter and organic bone broth contain powerful nutrients that strengthen and stabilize the immune system.

Short- and medium-chain fatty acids play an important role in immune function. The best sources for these fats include coconut, grass-fed butter or ghee and bone broth. These three superfoods enhance the flavor of the food that you eat and provide remarkable immune benefits.

Coconut:

Coconut oil is one of nature's most powerful forms of nutrition. Mothers' milk is considered the most perfect food on the planet for human consumption due to its ideal nutritional content and immune-boosting compounds. The closest match in nature to mothers' milk is found within the coconut. This tropical staple is loaded with many powerful fatty acids that give it a unique taste and an abundance of health-enhancing benefits.

Coconut oil enhances every bodily system. It is most renowned for its ability to dramatically boost immunity through the presence of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) like lauric acid. When the body consumes lauric acid, it is metabolized into a monoglyceride called monolaurin. Monolaurin liquefies microbial fatty cell membranes, causing them to disintegrate. It is quite possibly one of nature's most powerful antimicrobial agents.^{(1, 2, 3)}

Grass-fed butter:

When cows eat grass, they concentrate antioxidants into their dairy. The major antioxidant that is concentrated is a fat-soluble form of vitamin A called retinol. Retinol is especially important for healthy neurological function, immune coordination and vision.

Grass-fed butter is also a rich source of various beneficial vitamin E tocopherols and other carotenoid antioxidants. These all have a positive effect at reducing oxidative stress in the arterioles and reducing risk of heart disease.

Grass-fed butter also contains powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acids. This includes the short- and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids ALA, EPA and DHA. It is is also the richest source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is extraordinary powerful anti-inflammatory fatty acid that has been shown to be anticarcinogenic and immune-enhancing.⁽⁴⁾

Finally, grass-fed butter is one of the best sources of butyrate. This is a small-chain fatty acid (SCFA), and it has a profound benefit on energy production and digestive health. Butyrate is the preferred fuel source for our large intestinal cells. This is especially important because it helps prevent and heal leaky gut syndrome.⁽⁵⁾

Intestinal permeability is considered by many to be the leading source of inflammation in the body. This is most likely the rationale by how butyrate helps reduce auto-immunity and prevent cancer cell development.⁽⁶⁾

Organic bone broth:

Many cultures have used bone broth to make healing elixers, soups and stews for many centuries. The Jewish community made chicken soup the popular remedy for the common cold without fully understanding the unique health benefits in this dish. Science has revealed the amazing health benefits that come with bone broth.

Bone broth can be made from any animal with bones, and the most popular soup bones include those of fish, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and venison. Commercially raised animal bones are never recommended. Look for wild-caught fish, organic poultry and grass-fed beef bones.

The bones house a variety of powerful nutrients that become released when they are slowly simmered in water for a few hours. These nutrients include bone marrow, which helps provide the raw materials for healthy blood cells and immune development.

Bone broth provides the nutritional synergy to calm an overactive immune system while supplying the body with raw materials to rebuild stronger and healthier cells. This is why it is such a great healing food to have when the body is encountering stress from bacterial or viral infections as well as digestive disorders and leaky gut syndrome.

Sources:

1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

4) http://cancer.ucsf.edu^[PDF]

5) http://gut.bmj.com

6) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

7) http://drjockers.com

8) http://drjockers.com

9) http://drjockers.com

About the author:
Dr David Jockers is a Maximized Living doctor and owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Georgia where he specializes in functional nutrition, functional medicine and corrective chiropractic care to get to the underlying cause of major health problems.

His website features great articles on natural health and incredible recipes. He is the author of the best-selling book SuperCharge Your Brain - the complete guide to radically improve your mood, memory and mindset. He has over 50,000 active followers on his social media and email newsletter and is a big influencer in the Primal Health movement.

Dr. Jockers is also available for long distance consultations and health coaching to help you beat disease and reach your health goals. For more information got to www.drjockers.com