Building your Immune System
“Sometimes you feel all grown up, like you don’t need a Mommy! Then you get the Flu….” I’ve seen this on a Hallmark card and it hits the nail right on the head ;-))
Viruses are the cause for the common cold, flu and respiratory illness and although our world is teeming with them, it is only once our soldiers fail that we fall prey to illness. This army of soldiers in our body is known as the Immune System. If you don’t feed your army and look after your soldiers, they will AWOL on you and with winter approaching let’s keep them happy and healthy, just so we don’t all end up needing a Mommy.
- Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs.
- Consider taking Probiotics. Supplements and fermented milk products have been shown to reduce respiratory as well as gastric infections.
- Go for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving.
- Eat medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake (sometimes sold as “hen of the woods”).
- Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.
- Catch some rays. Sunlight triggers the skin’s production of vitamin D.
- Avoid tobacco smoke. It undermines basic immune defences and raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia in everyone, and middle ear infections in kids.
- Try immune-supportive herbs. If you get recurrent infections, consider taking immune-supportive herbs.
- Drink less alcohol. Excessive consumption decreases the functionality of the immune system and increases chances of lung infections.
- Wash your Hands. Clean hands before preparing food and eating limits the amount of bacteria entering your system and weakening your immune system.
Vitamins boost your immune system and performs best if taken in conjunction with other vitamins. As with any medication, all vitamin supplements should be taken in moderation and the best form of absorption still remains by healthy food consumption. Selenium. People with low selenium levels are at greater risk of some cancers. Vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is associated with impaired immunity and increased risk of infectious disease. Vitamin B2. There is some evidence that vitamin B2 enhances resistance to bacterial infections.Vitamin B6. Supplementing with moderate doses to address the deficiency restores immune function. Vitamin C. May work in concert with other micronutrients rather than providing benefits alone. Vitamin D. Doctors know that people afflicted with tuberculosis responded well to sunlight. Vitamin E. Increasing the daily dose of vitamin E from the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 30 mg to 200 mg increase antibody responses to hepatitis B and tetanus after vaccination. Zinc is a trace element essential for cells of the immune system, and zinc deficiency affects the ability of T cells and other immune cells to function as they should. Caution: While it’s important to have sufficient zinc in your diet (15–25 mg per day), too much zinc can inhibit the function of the immune system.
