Check Out These Top Ways to Enhance Your Immunity and What You Should Avoid for a Healthier Lifestyle!
Tired of the endless cycle of sickness in your home this time of year and wondering how you can naturally boost your family’s immune system (so you’re not catching every cold that comes your way)?
I get it.
That used to be our family. So many missed vacations, missed hangouts with our friends, and feeling cruddy around the holidays. Not fun at all!
Your immune system has the ability to keep you from getting sick so often. If it’s strong and ready to fight whatever comes your way, you’ll find you and your family rarely sick. If you do catch something, you’ll also realize that it’s not as intense and your body kicks it FAST.
This is just one of the benefits of curating a strong immune system. Your entire life is impacted, not just by how many times you get sick. Clarity, focus, improved mood, and even better skin — the immune system is brimming with benefits that can give you a happier and healthier life.
So it’s time to take it seriously and learn what we should and shouldn’t be doing when it comes to immune health.
What Is the Immune System?
To understand what you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to boosting your immune system, you first need to understand what the immune system is.
Your immune system is a collection of organs, red blood cells and proteins that work together constantly to protect you from foreign substances.
It’s working hard even while you sleep. It attacks and removes pathogens such as parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses and even toxins internally.
When your immune system is weak, it’s not able to perform these tasks as quickly or efficiently.
Sometimes, it can’t do the job at all because it’s so weak and depleted from what it needs to work effectively. The consequences of this? Getting sick!
What Are the Signs of a Weak Immune System?
Most people that have a weak immune system, feel it. They know something is off, unbalanced.
Here are some of the key signs to realizing you may have a weak immune system.
You’re Stressed All the Time
Studies show that long-term stress weakens your immune system. It’s not a coincidence that after a stressful week at work or home, you find you’ve come down with a nasty cold.
Stress decreases your body’s lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help fight off infection. When your lymphocyte levels are low, you will likely catch those nasty bugs.
You’re Always Sick
Do you feel like you can’t catch a break when it comes to being sick? It’s like the second you’re over one thing, another comes right at you and knocks you down before you’ve even fully recovered.
When your body isn’t strong enough to fight off the constant exposure to bacteria and viruses, you fall victim to each and every one.
You Have Frequent Infections
It’s a definite red flag if you are coming down with any of these infections often:
- Ear infections
- Pneumonia
- Strep
- Sinusitis
If you’re on antibiotics often, it’s time to look at the deeper root cause, which might very well be a weak immune system.
You Feel Tired All the Time
If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re constantly on the go, and you make no time for yourself… you’re going to be tired. Our bodies aren’t designed to function that way.
But, if you’re getting eight hours of sleep a night, you’re prioritizing downtime, moving your body with exercise (even a long walk) and you still feel exhausted — this could also be a red flag.
When your immune system struggles, so do your energy levels. It’s one of the most obvious signs.
The 6 Do’s of Building Your Immune System
The great news? With a little effort and consistency, you can build up your immune system pretty quickly.
Once you get it to its optimal levels, it’s all about maintaining and reaping the benefits of a strong immune system.
Here are the top six ways to build your immune system.
1. Consume These Herbs Regularly
These herbs are incredibly high in antioxidants and powerful immune system stimulants.
- Echinacea
- Elderberry
- Astragalus Root
- Ginseng
These herbs are easily digestible in liquid or dried form. If you’re a tea lover, you’ll love them in their dried form.
2. Eat These Nutrient-Rich Foods
Nutrition is crucial for your immune system to get strong and stay strong!
Eat these nutrient-rich foods to boost your health quickly:
- Bone broth
- Green Tea
- Vitamin C foods: citrus fruits, red and green bell peppers, pineapple, mango, honeydew melon
- Beta-Carotene foods: carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach
When you eat these types of food, you’re tightening the junctions in your gut and regulating your gut microbiome, making it easier for you to fully absorb every single nutrient.
3. Use High-Quality Supplements
It can feel impossible to get all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need daily, even when you’re eating healthy and nutritious meals.
Here are the top three supplements I suggest for top-notch immune health:
- Elderberry Syrup
- Probiotics
- Vitamin D
- Zinc
High-quality supplements can help give your body the boost it needs and fill that nutritional gap.
4. Prioritize Sleep
You hear this one over and over, but there’s a good reason for that! When you’re not getting enough sleep, your body is tired (even if you say you only need a few hours a night).
When your body didn’t get the right amount of rest required to turnover cells, replenish and rejuvenate, you’re left with an exhausted immune system.
Prioritize at least 8 hours of sleep a night and you’ll realize your body is getting stronger with each passing day and night.
5. Reduce Your Stress
Experiencing stress is completely normal, it’s more about how you actively deal with that stress and the steps you take to reduce it when you can.
Here are my recommendations:
- Make time for yourself: a warm lavender bath, a quiet walk, time to read or a girl's night are just a few ideas.
- Find a trusted counselor: sometimes the stress you’re experiencing could be coming from deeper issues. Working with a trusted counselor will help you bring those issues to light so you can heal and move forward.
- Use essential oils: aromatherapy is a wonderful tool to reduce stress and build your immune health all at once.
6. Exercise Every Day
Regular physical exercise is the key here! It can help you sleep better, reduce stress, and even motivate you to make healthier eating choices.
When you get your body moving and your blood flowing, the effects on your entire body and the benefits are mind-blowing. Don’t skip this one, even if it’s just a simple walk in your neighborhood after dinner.
Building your immune system comes down to consuming herbs, nutrient-rich foods, and high-quality supplements, and prioritizing sleep and exercise. The list might feel daunting, but remember to take one step at a time. Don’t be overwhelmed!
The 6 Don’ts of Building Your Immune System
Here are the top things you shouldn’t do if you’re trying to build your immune health.
1. Don’t Drink Alcohol
Consuming alcohol regularly or excessively dehydrates your body. It also negatively impacts your gut health by overwhelming the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Serious damage can occur within your GI tract and other organs as a result.
2. Limit Caffeine
Too much of anything isn’t good for you, and this is especially true with caffeine. While caffeine in moderation can provide your body with a healthy dose of antioxidants, too much can alter your immune system responses leaving your body imbalanced and stressed out.
3. Don’t Seclude Yourself
We all need community. Friends to spend time with, confide in, and get us out of the house. Even if you’re an introvert, remember there are healthy and unhealthy introverts. The healthy ones know they still need to get out, have experiences and find good friends to walk life alongside. If you don’t feel this way, consider finding someone or a group of people that make you feel fulfilled and satisfied. We all need our special group of people.
4. Avoid Processed and Sugary Foods
This will deplete your immune system faster than you can even imagine. Nutrition is so incredibly important. You can be sleeping well and taking walks every day, but if your diet is full of processed and sugary foods, your immune system won’t be able to keep up.
6. Don’t Use Tobacco Products
Tobacco is known to compromise the balance of your immune system. It also increases the risk of several autoimmune disorders. Not something you should mess around with if you’re serious about living a healthy life.
To sum it up, limit alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, sugary foods, and tobacco products and make time for community!
An Easy Step You Can Take Today
Our family was eating pretty healthy, getting outside and sleeping regularly… but we still struggled with those occasional colds that really knocked us out for a good week.
It’s not the case anymore.
I give all the credit of taking our immune system health to the next level with a simple daily dose of Organic Elderberry Syrup.
What makes my elderberry syrup so different from others you can find in the store?
Seven organic ingredients: elderberries, aronia berries, honey, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. That’s it!
Absolutely no: artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or added sugar. Just lightly sweetened with a touch of organic honey.
Brimming with: antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals and plant compounds.
My Elderberry Syrup is a natural way to strengthen and support your immune system and stay healthy no matter what. Fresh, organic, small batches and honesty — that’s what we stand for.
💜 Grab yours here!
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