11 Ways to Improve Your Immune System

It is the season when people are coughing and sneezing around every turn. It seems inevitable that we will catch something. This is not necessarily true. You can protect yourself by ensuring that your immune system is in top working order. Here are some simple things you can do to pump up your bodies natural guard team.
1. Eat your leafy greens. Fill 2/3 of your plate with leafy greens, cook them into your eggs or wilt them into soups and stews.
2. Get your Zzzs. Getting your nightly rest helps your body put its energy toward the immune system. Everybody’s sweet spot for sleep is a little different. For me it is 7-8 hours.
3. Vitamin C. Vitamin C is such a great immune booster. Whether you get is naturally or as a supplement it can really help you power through this time of year untouched.
4. Echinacea. This pretty plant, when dried and taken as an herb, can really help support your immune system. It is part of the trifecta I take if I start to feel like I am coming down with something.
5. Zinc. Be careful with this one. With this mineral more is not better. But using zinc lozenges or taking a tablet a day for a short period of time can be effective in preventing the sniffles from taking hold.
6. Put down the soda! Trading your sugary or artificially sweetened soda for water can help your body too. If your body doesn’t have to process the chemicals it can work on battling the bugs.
7. Choose beneficial foods. Shiitake mushrooms, garlic, onions, broccoli are all helpful in combating attackers.
8. Chicken soup. If you are not a vegetarian like me this old wives tail is worth a shot. I have seen it be very beneficial in clearing up a stuffy head.
9. Hot tea with honey and lemon. This is one of my moms fixes for a sore throat. Honey has great healing properties and a nice hot cup of tea feels great on a cold day.
10. Move your body. Exercise not only feels great but it helps keep you body running like a well oiled machine. Even better if you can do it out in the sun to get some natural vitamin D.
11. Starve a fever, feed a cold. This may just be an old wives tale, but I find it beneficial to allow myself to take in lots of good healthy food to give my body plenty of fuel to make the germ fighting white blood cells it needs.
I hope you find these tricks helpful to pump up your immune system. Remember to check with your doctor prior to taking vitamins, minerals, and herbs if your health is complex or if you have questions.
What are your go to techniques to keep yourself healthy?