How to boost your immune system *

8 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

1. Stress.

This is one of the biggest.  Mental stress, physical stress both can make a person more susceptible to or more prone to illness. Get enough rest.  Get some exercise.  Stop watching the news. If you absolutely have to watch or listen to or read the news, then limit yourself.  A constant barrage day after day from the media can make the best of us weep and be weary and think the worst of the world.  Turn off the news.

2. Sunlight and vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps build one’s immune system.  Some say that it acts more like a hormone in the way it handles the body and helps fortify it against various forms of disease. 

If you want the really technical stuff and can wade through a white paper you can read this article at The US Library of Medicine/National Institute of Health: Vitamin D and the Immune system 

If you want something a little more understandable check out this video on this page or read the article on Dr. Mercola’s website.  (Please note this may touch a nerve with some regarding vaccines. I’m not taking a stand either way on the subject of vaccines; I only am including this article link on the page to show the effectiveness of this Vitamin.)

“Dr. Joe Prendergast explains that vitamin D is likely more powerful than any vaccine you could take, as German researchers have found it increases your immune system by a factor of 3 to 5.”

And who doesn’t feel better when they get some sunshine!  Many parts of the world and in winter, no one is going to get enough sunlight.  And many people work inside at the important parts of the day.  I, personally, swear by Vitamin D.  I used to get sick every winter, feel down, with the ‘blahs’.  Years ago I started taking huge amounts of Vitamin D daily throughout the winter months and have not been sick at all since.  I no longer get ‘down’ or depressed during the short winter days and long winter nights.  Please though, check with your doctor so that you know you are taking enough but not too much. 

3. Exercise

There is a great article at mayoclinic.org on exercise and stress. 

“Exercise in almost any form can act as a stress reliever. Being active can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.”

Lower your stress levels by exercising and you automatically boost your immune system. Something as simple as going for a walk.  Going for a walk or some sort of outdoor activity helps both physically and mentally.  First of all, it gets the blood flowing and muscles working the way they should and also gets a person’s attention outward.  And this is paramount.  Doing this activity while listening to the news or checking out Facebook kind of defeats the purpose.  Look around while you are walking, running, hiking or biking. 

4. Limit drugs, alcohol, tobacco.

This is pretty common knowledge; drugs, alcohol and tobacco use up nutrients in your body. Alcohol uses up B vitamins.  Marijuana uses up minerals such as magnesium (which is a calming mineral). Tobacco uses up Vitamins C.  They all use up certain amounts of B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium.  B vitamins are huge anti stress nutrients. Drugs and alcohol also affect the liver and stomach preventing proper metabolism of foods, so even if you are eating reasonably well, you may not be getting the proper nutrition into the cells.

From Journey Pure - a drug rehab organization

“It’s no secret that drug and alcohol addictions are also difficult on your body. However, what you may not realize is that addictions deplete essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly.”

5. Eat more healthy foods:  yogurt, vegetables.

Keep a balanced diet. Make sure that you are getting enough proteins. Lots of micronutrients in fruits and vegetables.  Yogurt: plain yogurt, without flavours or sugar added should be the best.  Sugars feed bad bacteria so if you are eating yogurt with sugar, and most flavored yogurt with have this, you are kind of neutralizing the effects of the bacteria cultures in the yogurt.  Add some honey if you want a bit of sweetness. 

Honey is also great because it will help kill off any bad bacteria internally. 

And remember, fatty foods don’t make you fat.  Good fats will fill you up and you won’t crave so much sugar and carbohydrates. Again, a balanced diet, with enough protein, carbs and fats. 

6. Vitamins. B vitamins are considered the stress vitamins.

Take your vitamins.  The trickiest thing with vitamins is getting the right balance for you.  Adele Davis talks about this in her books.  One can create deficiencies by taking too much of certain vitamins.  If they are not balanced properly.  There are some pretty knowledgeable people at your health food stores.  Some multi vitamins have every B vitamin at the same volume, 50 mg.  This may not be the best for you.  One can buy multi vitamins and multi B vitamins that are not 50mg of everything.  Ask at your health food store for something more appropriate.

Here is a good article that explains a bit more of what I’m talking about if you are interested: Dr Weil - B Vitamins.

7. Sugar and Processed Food

As much as possible stay away from sugars and processed food.  These are taking nutrients from the body instead of adding nutrients, causing more physical stress and predisposing one to more illness.

“Stress, sugars, and processed foods are a few of the other sources of strain on your body. Once you put all these together it is all your body's resources can do just to keep up. It is harder and harder to stay healthy.”  Healthy Life

As I mentioned earlier, good fats will fill you up so that your cravings for sugar and carbs will be a lot less. 

8. A few other things:

There are other things you can take to help support your immune system, things like garlic, various herbs, and mushrooms have a bazillion different micronutrients that are good for you.

* The above suggestions are just that, suggestions.  From my personal observations and experiences.  Although I have have added some decent references where I have been able to.