Boost Your Immune System Naturally

With Cold and Flu season upon us, now is a great time to give your immune system a natural boost.  Here are some simple ways to naturally boost your immune system.

1.       Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a powerhouse!  It is a potent anti-oxidant.   It boosts the immune system by supporting important cell-mediated immune responses and enhancing lymphocytes, natural killer cells and antibody production.  The best way to get your vitamin C is from whole food sources such as citrus fruits, red bell peppers and strawberries. 

2.      Get your Zzz’s:  Lack of sufficient sleep suppresses the immune system.  The more sleep deprived you are the more likely you are to get sick.  Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night.  School aged children (6-13 years) need 9-11 and Teens (14-17) need 8-10 hours per night.

3.      Wash Your Hands:  There are numerous studies showing that frequent hand washing reduces the spread of germs and your chances of getting sick.  Although, DO NOT wash your hands with soaps containing anti-bacterial agents such as triclosan.  The FDA has ruled that there is no additional illness protection using products containing anti-bacterial agents versus washing with plain old soap and water.

4.      Drink Plenty of Fluids Mainly Water:  Staying hydrated is so important for overall health especially immune function.  Water keeps all the body’s systems working at their optimal level.  Drinking plenty of water flushes out toxins and keeps proper blood volume allowing the proper amount of oxygen to be carried to cells and help them function properly.  Water also is vital in the production of lymph.  Lymph is what the immune system uses to move White Blood Cells and other immune cells throughout the body to fight disease.