Our immune system is critical to our ability to live a healthy lifestyle.  The bad news is that many things in our environment impact us whether we want them to or not; the good news is that there are some steps we can take to naturally boost your immune system.  They are simple steps – common sense recommendations about using nutrition to enhance your immunity.

Gone are the days when our physicians were the only resource to well-care, telling us to take specific vitamins or prescribing drug manufactured antibiotics to help us fight off infections. There is a wealth of easily accessible information available to us today that empowers us to care for our bodies and our health in a more natural way, without the use of drugs.  I understand that not everyone is as enamored with research as I am, so I find great delight in doing all that tedious work – and sharing the results with others.  The following is a result of a recent “interest” I had in better managing my health, through nutrition.

Natural Immune Boosters

  1. Garlic, as a natural antibiotic helps fight off infections. It also has anti-viral properties. There are a number of ways it can be consumed in salads, soups, breads, etc. Eating garlic is one of the best ways to boost your immune system naturally.
  2. Omega-3:  Many people do not like fish, but the Omega-3 found in fish is necessary to support your immune system. If you just can’t get to eating more fish, at least consider some high quality fish oils which will help you boost the amount of Omega-3 you are getting and in turn boost your immunity.
  3. Vitamin C strengthens your immune system by stimulating antibodies.  This is a “fun” vitamin to add to your diet… simply start by increasing the amount of red and green sweet peppers, kiwi, oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, papaya, mango, guava, and black currants to make sure you are getting enough vitamin C in your diet.
  4. Vitamin E has powerful antioxidant properties that strengthen the immune system.  Some diets more naturally lend themselves to getting enough Vitamin E.  If yours does not, try eating more sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower oil, safflower oil, corn oil, wheat germ oil, turnip greens, and pine nuts to ensure you are getting enough vitamin E.

News About Antioxidants and other Immune Builders

  1. Antioxidants boost the immune system. You can recognize their existence in the colorful pigments of fruits and vegetables.
  2. Carotenoids are plentiful in carrots, apricots and sweet potatoes ,mangoes, squash, spinach, kale, collard greens, tomatoes, guava, and pink grapefruit.
  3. Bioflavinoids are at their greatest benefit when you partake of the white pith just beneath the citrus peel of an orange or grapefruit.  They are also found in peppers, grapes, onions, garlic, berries, green and white herbal tea and buckwheat.
  4. Yogurt has long been known to impact your immune system.  The immune system is dependent on the health of your digestive system. Cultured foods, such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut, as well as probiotics, populate your digestive system with the good bacteria necessary to boost immunity. Keep in mind that sugar feeds the bad bacteria in the digestive system- ingest as little as is humanly possible for the greatest health benefit.
  5. Echinacea is a well-known herb for boosting immunity. It works best when taken as a tea in fresh leaf form, but can also be taken as tea from dried leaves, as a tincture, or in capsule form.
  6. Gano – the healthy coffee: You can experience a great-tasting beverage that offers a cleaner, more sustained energy, as well as revitalization for your entire body.  VISIT HERE for more information about the full nutritional benefits of this delightful drink in a variety of flavors and styles.

Beyond Nutrition

  1. Your Mental Health and Your Immune System: Your body performs better when you get enough sleep. Making sure you get enough rest is the most important way to boost your immune system. Emotions and stress also weaken our bodies, and the more rested we are, the less we respond to stressful situations, and can effectively minimize breakdowns in our immunity.
  2. Exercise and Immunity: Getting your body moving and getting your blood flowing improves your overall health and helps to prevent illness. It is not necessary to undertake a major exercise program; it is only necessary to begin moving a little more each day.
  3. Wash Your Hands: Most people do not realize how many times each day they touch their mouth, nose, eyes, and ears with their hands, so cleanliness is essential.  This means that what Mom tried to teach you about washing your hands will help prevent the spread of illness and manage your immune system.
  4. The Sun Boosts Your Immune System Naturally: We are frequently admonished to stay out of the sun and wear skin protection, but what we are not told frequently enough is how important Vitamin D is to our overall health.  The sun is one of only a few ways that our bodies get the levels of Vitamin D we need to fight off infection.

There, you have it… a few things that will help YOU better manage your immune system in natural ways.

Until next time… visit my website for more healthy living.

Jan Vitale, your Nutrition Nanny