Allopathy medicine tells us that we need pills and injections to protect our health. Natural Health practitioners tells us that food builds our immunity. Then, we’re told that the soil is depleted and our food supply is inadequate. However, if the soil is lacking, how do plants manage to grow? Is your head spinning yet? I know mine is!

What can I do?

One would think that I would encourage you to take a couple of handfuls of vitamins and minerals. That’s not the case. But, I do recommend certain steps to take to strengthen one’s immune system. I hear you asking me, “What do I need to do to boost my immune system?”

Immune System support is a broad based approach consisting of essential vitamins and minerals to support and boost your immune system. This combination helps create the ideal environment for optimal immune function.

Therefore, a common sense approach is recommended. (Yes, I know, what’s common sense?)

• First, eat a well-rounded diet.
• Then, exercise regularly. Walk your way to health.
• In addition, get enough sleep. Sleep is important!
• Remember, wash your hands with soap and water.
• Reduce your stress. For instance, stop being plugged into the news media!

Strengthen your immune system naturally

The natural way to boost your body’s defenses is to eat a variety of vegetables daily. After that, look at the type of foods you eat. Similarly, shop the edges of the grocery store where the fresh food is. Remember, eat the rainbow!

Consume vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, collard greens, and spinach. These foods are a great source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fiber. Fruits such as blueberries, bananas , and mangoes are good sources of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Citrus foods high in vitamin C include grapefruit. oranges. tangerines. lemons, and limes.

Supplements

While the list of supplements can be long, I will discuss the basic supplement supporters. Seek out a good multivitamin geared for your gender and age. Research the different brands on the market.

Having said this, let’s look at a few boosters. Take a probiotic to keep your gut in shape. A healthy gut equals a healthy body.

Therefore, vitamin C has been found to boost the natural resistance of the body, improve gum health and alleviate dry mouth. Consuming vitamin C tablets also helps in treating allergies such as hay fever, asthma and eczema. This supplement can lessen the effects of sun exposure such as redness or sunburn.

Vitamin E can stop oxidative stress and repair free radicals to help strengthen the immune response.

B vitamins play an important role in cell metabolism. Vitamin B Complex consist of (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12). Make sure your B complex includes all of these B vitamins.  Vitamin B6 is known as a catalyst for multiple biochemicals reactions that take place in the immune system. However, taking vitamin B12 helps you produce DNA and red blood cells. It encourages healthy nerve function. It’s found naturally only in animal sources. Which means people who don’t eat meat or dairy products can have trouble reaching the daily recommended 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12. B6 helps to improve immune markers such as T lymphocytes and neutrophils.

Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin found in food and supplements. Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for immune system health. The D vitamin helps in reducing inflammation, fights bacteria and viruses and regulate differentiation, cell proliferation, and cell death.

Wrapping It Up

Eat your fruits and veggies! Take a good multivitamin containing the ones listed above. Get enough sleep! In addition to these recommendations, breathe deeply to circulate the oxygen in your body. Move! Any form of exercise is good.

Most importantly, relax, stop watching the drama on the news! Above all, enjoy life! Life is too short for worry. Know you are in charge of your health! In other words, trust yourself, you’ve got this! You have the knowledge to maintain your health! Now, you have the tools, use them!

Eat healthy and live well!