10 ‘Savvy Tips’ for a More Powerful Immune System
Your immune system is a complicated, interesting and amazing system which helps keep you healthy and strong, protecting your body from environmental stressors.
The immune system is a network of organs, tissues and cells that helps to defend the body from invading viruses and micro-organisms that may bring on illness.
We make choices every day that effect our immune system and our health — the foods we eat, the exercise we get (or don’t get), the nutritional supplements we take, our unwitting exposure to harmful chemicals, our mental attitude, whether or not we smoke, etc.
Bad choices weaken our bodies and our immune systems while good choices strengthen our bodies and our immune systems.
Other factors, such as age and heredity, also play a part but their role is much less important than the part we play in our lifestyle choices. What we eat and drink and how we live are the key factors in keeping our immune system running at optimal capacity.
The Savvy Team have some amazing recommendations that seem to make a huge difference to immunity.
Recent research on the immune system and everyday nutritional preparedness
Recent research on the immune system has demonstrated the importance of vitamins A, C, and E and the minerals zinc and selenium. Vitamins A, C and E are important for the formation of white blood cells. In fact as an example the trace mineral Selenium stimulates formation of antibodies to combat viruses and bacteria and Zinc stimulates the “killer” cells that search out and destroy harmful viruses and bacteria.
However, no matter what you do, sometimes your immune system gets tested . . .
That’s why you also need a backup plan!
All great athletes know this. They train hard so their bodies stay healthy and they can perform at their best. But they still have physiotherapists and health professionals on call – because they know sometimes life just throws a curve ball. That’s why they always have a back-up strategy in place.
So .. what is a back-up plan for you?
Here’s 10 ‘Savvy Tips’ for a More Powerful Immune System:
- Take a trace mineral supplement. Minerals are essential for every aspect of cellular and metabolic function. Vitamins and minerals such as C, E, zinc, betacarotene, B6, B12, ribofavin, iron, selenium, copper and folic acid have all been found to have a vital role in immune performance.
- Take a vitamin D supplement. Many Australians are deficient, which can seriously undermine your immune function.
- Increase your intake of antioxidants. Vitamin C, E and all other antioxidants improve immune function. More on this shortly.
- Take extra probiotics. Probiotics they are ssential for the normal function of digestion. A healthy digestive tract helps to keep you healthy.
- Use adaptogentic herbs. Adpatogens are herbs that help keeps the body’s immune system strong and in balance.
- Use polysaccharides. Coming in the form of specific immune boosting mushrooms, polysaccharides are powerful immune boosters.
- Use bovine colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals before the onset of lactation. Rich in protein and immune-protecting transfer factors, colostrum supports the immune system of the newborn, and it can also improve health later in life. It helps increase immunoglobulin protein levels in the intestinal tract to fight foreign microorganisms.
- Exercise regularly. Ideally, you should get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three to four days per week.
- Get enough sleep. Your body needs proper sleep in order to stay healthy. Adults typically need around seven to eight hours of quality sleep per night.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. To stay healthy, your diet should include plenty of whole foods, fruits, vegetables, good fats and an abundance of lean sources of protein.
Why antioxidants are so important for immunity
Free radicals in the body can increase due to things like stress, poor diet and environmental stressors. Simply put, free radicals have the ability to keep your immune system from functioning optimally. So what can you do to promote a healthier immune system and protect against all these things including the environmental stressors?
Well, your body already produces antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. However, as we grow older, the levels of antioxidants drop significantly. It is estimated that by age 40, your antioxidant level is at 50%, and by the age of 60 to 70, it is down to around 5% to 10%.
So you need to get your hands on a healthy supply of extra antioxidants in the form of supplements, to ‘mop up’ these scavenger molecules as soon as they start to pose a threat. While you can do everything in your power to give your body the immune support it needs over the winter months – just like leading athletes, you also need to make sure you have an extra backup plan in case life throws you an unsuspected infection to deal with.
What’s all this about ‘Adaptogenic Herbs’?
Recent scientific research has confirmed much of what traditional herbalists have known for years, proving that many herbs do indeed help the immune system, either by nutritionally supporting and stimulating the white blood cells and the organs that produce them, or by direct effect on the harmful organisms themselves. The Chinese have practiced herbology continuously for thousands of years and have accumulated much wisdom in their use.
Today, we can all benefit from the knowledge they have acquired. The Chinese usually use herbal combinations rather than single herbs. The herbs in these combinations are chosen for their synergistic effects and, as a result, traditional Chinese formulations are quite effective. Herbs such as ginseng and astragalus and have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to boost immunity and help protect against colds and flu. You can read more here: 8 Helpful Herbs for Beating the Winter Bugs, Coughs & Sniffles!
‘Magic’ Mushrooms?
OK – now this is an article on boosting your immune system – so we’re not referring to hallucinogenic ‘magic mushrooms’! Some mushrooms however, have been proven to be like ‘magic’ in boosting your immune system!
Reishi mushroom and Maitake mushroom are from the same family (polyporaceae), and their similar polysaccharide content is thought to boost immune activity, increase the activation of natural killer cells and activate macrophages. Cordyceps, a Chinese herbal mushroom, protects genes by promoting the repair of DNA. Cordyceps increases T-cell and B-cell activity. These two groups kill foreign invaders.
There’s no benefit in ‘suffering though’ cold and flu season or through long-term poor immunity when these incredible ingredients exist that act like a heavy-duty bodyguard for your immune system! Don’t let the ‘bad guys’ – ‘smash your immune system to smithereens’!
Nature and science have provided some ‘ultimate weapons’ to help you fight back and stay strong and healthy!
Here are some further posts that will help you in your search for better health and a stronger resistance to illness and disease:
- Herbal Immune Boosters
- Your Microbiome And You
- Apples Ain’t Apples: Nutritional Issues In Health
- 12 Simple Steps For A Healthy Home Environment
- Could Health Conditions Be Linked To Our Homes
- Do You Service Your Body Like You Service Your Car
- Is Orthomolecular Medicine The Answer to Disease
[Want some actionable tips for boosting immunity and beating the ‘winter bugs and blues’? Download the Special Report – ’11 SUPERFOODS & Herbs for Defending Yourself Against the WINTER Bugs & Blues!’ ]
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