10 IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTERS

With all that’s going on why not get some information on what foods and vitamins we can eat to help boost our immune system! All the extra sugar that kids {and us adults} are indulging in contributes to a compromised immune system. If you have a poor immune system, you will catch viral and bacterial infections more easily than someone with a healthy immune system. Check out what blogger, Myra, suggests we use and do regularly to boost our immune system.

1. Avoid refined sugar and processed foods.

If you do nothing else, do your body a favor and don’t eat junky sweets because they suppress immunity thus making you more susceptible to catching something.

2. Raw fruits & veggies

Eating a balanced diet full of raw fruits and veggies is a great way to make your body’s pH more alkaline than acidic which will help keep you well. Nasty germs don’t like an alkaline environment. Making green smoothies is an easy way to get these into your system. 80/20 balance is ideal.

3. Drink plenty of Water

Avoid drinking anything with dyes, HFCS and artificial sweeteners as they suppress the immune system.   Drink at least 64 ounces a day…try adding a drop of Lemon essential oil or some fresh lemon/lime or herbs to my water. Delish!

4. Garlic or garlic oil

If garlic breath doesn’t bother you or your family, chop up fresh garlic cloves and down them with a glass of water.  You can also purchase odorless garlic tablets if you don’t want to smell like an Italian restaurant. Ha!  Garlic oil is a great option for soothing and protecting yours and your childrens’ ears if prone to ear infections.

5. Vitamin- C

Everyone probably knows this already, but taking a Vitamin C supplement is always good for building immunity.  

6. Vitamin D-3

If you’re not taking liquid vitamin D3, go buy some right now. Seriously. Most Americans are vitamin D3 deficient thanks to lack of sunshine and sun blocking agents.  

7. Probiotics

Everyone needs a healthy gut and most of us don’t have one thanks to processed food and antibiotics.  One of the best ways to boost a healthy immune system is to build a healthy gut with good bacteria!  I know that sounds funny. ? Capsuled or tablet are great as well as homemade yogurt or some yummy kombucha. They are chewables for kids too!

8. Exercise!

Exercise is key to good health and a working lymph system which filters garbage out of our bodies.  The lymph system doesn’t have a pump to move the fluid through, so cardio workouts are really important.  

9. Sleep

Raise your hand if you don’t get enough rest. Ahem. {raises hand}  I’m working on it, but I know I need more.  Our bodies need rest to restore and rejuvenate.  Try to get an extra hour or two of rest each night especially if you’re fighting a bug of some sort.

10. Eat more whole plant foods!

Whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that may give you an upper hand against harmful pathogens.

The antioxidants in these foods help decrease inflammation by combatting unstable compounds called free radicals, which can cause inflammation when they build up in your body in high levels (5Trusted Source).

Chronic inflammation is linked to numerous health conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.

Meanwhile, the fiber in plant foods feeds your gut microbiome, or the community of healthy bacteria in your gut. A robust gut microbiome can improve your immunity and help keep harmful pathogens from entering your body via your digestive tract (6Trusted Source).

Furthermore, fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, which may reduce the duration of the common cold (7Trusted Source).

That’s a wrap, y’all!  I hope you learned a little bit here or there on supporting your body’s natural immunity.  Like I said, I’m not a doctor, so be sure to talk with your physician or naturopath/herbalist about a specific immune supporting plan that is right for you!

courtesy of: https://myblessedlife.net/2011/10/immune-system-boosters.html