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Flu season is here and it’s time to boost your immune system. Using everyday foods, herbs, and supplements, you can help keep your body strong and healthy. And yes, it is just as simple as it sounds.
Simplicity at its finest. Simple foods that can be found in your refrigerator or pantry can deliver a spectacular punch to your immune system. Try incorporating these foods into your diet routinely during this season.
Ginger: It can be used to cleanse the body. It can clean the build-up of toxins in your liver, colon, and other organs in your body.
Green Tea: Drinking can help the body fight off free radicals and oxidants. It’s known to protect cells from damage by its antioxidants.
Vitamin C Foods: Foods such as bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, cruciferous veggies (brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli) and citrus all help boost your immune system. Vitamin C plays a large role in controlling infections and healing wounds, not to mention it also helps several chemical and hormone messengers that are used in your nerves and brain.
By actively fighting microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, herbs can help booth the immune system. After all, they are said to be antagonistic, fighting pathogens. Two that you may want to consider adding to your routine are:
Echinacea: Echinacea has properties that can reduce inflammation and relieve pain, but it also has antiviral and antioxidant effects which will help support your immune system.
Ginseng: This herb can help regulate your immune system’s response to stress. Ginseng is said to strengthen your HPA (hypothalamic, pituitary adrenal) axis. Of course, Ginseng also helps balance the immune system by regulating several immune cells such as B cells and T cells. These can be known as macrophages and killer cells. These can spot threats to the immune system and the body tries to fight them off.
Certain studies lean toward ingredients found in supplements that could improve/reduce symptoms or responses to respiratory illness. Two key players to have on your team are vitamin D and zinc.
Vitamin D plays a very important role in supporting your immune system. It is commonly referred to as sunshine vitamin because your body can harvest it from the sun, but there are many different foods that offer up vitamin D, too, including:
Zinc produces new immune system cells and can primarily be found in:
Your overall health is what’s important, so any small step you make to implement the above will help towards building a healthier and strong immune system. Besides, nobody has time for the flu!
