5 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG
by Louise Skeen
Your immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins that defends your body against infection. The main parts of the immune system are: white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system, the lymphatic system, the spleen, the thymus, and the bone marrow. So it’s complex.
In fact, about 70 percent of your immune system is housed in your gut, so it’s super important to make sure your digestive system and microbiome is in tip-top shape, because a high functioning immune system increases your ability to fight off cell hijackers that multiply and create cold, flu, influenza, virus, and disease.
Your gut bacteria play an extremely important role in the development of white blood cells that help your body's immune system fight infection. The highest concentration and diversity of these species is found in your gastrointestinal tract, and your colon in particular.
If you are concerned that your gut system – your immune system may be toxic, then there’s good news!
You can take control of your health, boost your Immune system, and start to feel the positive effects – in just 5 to 10 days.
So Let’s get into The 5 Ways To Boost Your Immune System…..
SUPPLEMENT
A lot of my clients ask “why do I need to supplement my daily diet if I’m eating a lot of healthy food?” and I answer, because your soil is open to bacteria, infection, pollutants, and many toxins that can make you sick.”
And if you think I am referring to the soil their food is grown in, you’re on your way to being right, but I’m more-so talking about their soil being their gut microbiome, their lymphatic system, their complete system – the immune system that needs to be supported.
We are like plants. Alive and needing sunshine, food, water and nutrients to live. We fertilise our plants, and we need to fertilize our soil through supplements that we just cannot get enough of today.
We sit indoors more – so less sun
The foods conveniently available to us comes from the supermarket – how long has it been stored for, has it been mass produced, injected with chemicals and preservatives to keep fresher longer?
Water – too few people drink sufficient fresh water everyday – they’re drinking fluids, but these are caffeine based, sugar based, chemical based drinks.
We need supplements to balance our bodies with sufficient vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, phytochemicals, and to enrich your body's internal environment to fortify cellular protection, repair, and regeneration, and support your body’s renewal process.
VITAMIN C and ZINC
I’m going to talk about these two supplements together because both are equally amazing and should go hand in hand to boost your immunity.
Vitamin C is one supplement everyone should have – children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Vitamin C will improve your adrenals, your stress coping abilities, your joints, arthritis, skin and nails.
You see, Vitamin C helps your white blood cells wake up and pay attention to it’s role in your body, and it get’s on and does it.
ZINC is equally important in your body because it mirrors iron. Iron helps boost your general energy and focus, and it also improves your gastrointestinal processes, your immune system, and the regulation of your bodies temperature. Zinc does all that and more, like helping your immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA, the genetic material in all cells.
People low in iron are usually low in ZINC
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection. ...
Your immune system defends your body from foreign, invading organisms, promoting protective immunity while maintaining tolerance to self.
People are particularly low in Vitamin D in places that experience cold weather, but sadly the rate of people with inefficient levels of Vitamin D is growing because top few people are spending enough time out doors.
Get your Vitamin D checked when you’re next visiting your doctor – for peace of mind.
TUMERIC
Your body uses Turmeric to help bolster the immune system so by adding via supplement, extra turmeric into your diet during periods of stress or during flu season, your immune system will be boosted.
Used topically, turmeric is used as an anti-inflammatory treatment for treat skin conditions like ringworm, bruising, leech bites, eye infections, and infected wounds.
It is also used to treat pain in the body, inflammation of the oral mucosa, joint pain, and arthritis.
You need to eat a lot of it though to get a lot of the active ingredient – mainly cumin to take effect, so this is why supplementing is a great idea
GARLIC AND GINGER
Both garlic and ginger offer immune-boosting properties which have been recognised since early civilization because of their infection fighting qualities and cholesterol lowering qualities.
Garlic is reported to lower blood pressure, and ginger helps a sore throat, so I recommend you look for a supplement that offers the two foods together.
ECHANACIA
May help boost your body’s natural defence against germs, and it helps with the severity and length of sickness from a cold or flu.
Research shows it increases the number of white blood cells in your body, which fight infections.
PROBIOTIC
Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus is a medical food used as a probiotic and they have been shown to positively affect your immune health. Look for a probiotic that has 30 billion colonies (total). Double this dose if you're coming down with a cold or if you have been told to take antibiotics. These are live organisms so it pays to spend a little more on a good-quality brand.
DAILY DIET - Eat as natural as possible. The fruit and veggies – you should follow a plant based diet to keep a healthy immune system.
Papaya – One papaya offers you 224% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. It’s a fruit a lot of people don’t think to have but the nutritional properties – B vitamins, potassium, and folate - are amazing.
Kiwi Fruit offers a ton of essential nutrients and vitamin C to boost your white blood cells and help fight infection.
Blueberries are a superfood rich in flavonoids – an antioxidant that repairs damaged cells because they are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, dietary fibre, manganese, and potassium. A recent study states that eating 150g of blueberries daily reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 15 per cent – wow!!
Capsicum - did you know that capsicum (bell peppers) have twice the amount of vitamin C in it, than citrus fruit does?
Broccoli is packed with vitamin goodness - A, C, and E, as well as a load of other antioxidants and fibre. Broccoli is healthiest when it’s cooked as little as possible so that it retains its nutrients.
Spinach is also packed with vitamin C, numerous antioxidants and beta carotene, which may increase the infection-fighting abil