Promoting a Healthy Immune System

Keeping your immune system healthy and strong is important all year long  -- but it’s even more crucial during the fall and winter months. Many factors such as chronic stress, a poor diet, smoking and other factors can weaken the immune system, making one more susceptible to viral and bacterial attack. That is why it is important to implement an immune support strategy that focuses on strengthening your immune system before you come under attack.

Factors known to help our bodies fight infection include:  eating a balanced diet consisting of high fiber, high complex carbohydrates, and moderate protein, in the form of fresh, whole, unprocessed foods; good psychological health achieved through stress control, positive thinking, visualization, and good physical conditioning through aerobic exercise, passive stretching, yoga, adequate sleep, rest, and relaxation.

The following habits help to promote living a healthy lifestyle

Eating balanced meals is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. A balanced meal is a meal that has all three of the major macronutrients present, carbohydrates, fats and protein.  Eating six little meals a day or “grazing”  throughout the day is preferred.  Gorging yourself at one meal puts an enormous deal of stress on the digestive system and does not allow proper assimilation of nutrients into your body.  Many people think by eating one meal a day they will lose weight when in actuality their weight will remain the same.  Your metabolism is similar to a furnace.  It needs constant stoking.  So when you graze throughout the day your body makes use of the nutrients it needs and disposes of the ones it doesn’t. Your insulin level is indirectly increased by skipping meals or following irregular eating habits. A regular program of aerobic, resistance and flexibility exercises has been shown to reduce insulin levels and reverse insulin sensitivity. Regular use of stimulants raise insulin levels indirectly and puts a person on an accelerated aging fast track.

For optimum health, a person should have a regular stress management program.  Exercising at least three times per week is very important.  Yoga and meditation help the body to manage stress and relax. 

When you're feeling like a cold is coming on, Echinacea is a very popular herb to take.  Echinacea is an herb with a long history of traditional use in promoting a healthy immune system.  It is known to stimulate immune cells and natural killer cells.  Natural killer cells are powerful white blood cells that are armed with an estimated 100 different biochemical poisoning for foreign invaders, mainly virus-infected cells and cancer cells. 

Vitamin C supports immune function by also promoting increased natural killer cell activity and increased white blood cell movement to the site of action. Vitamin C is in many of the foods and drinks we consume throughout the day. If you do not eat fruits and vegetables, or drink juices containing Vitamin C, then it is mandatory for you to take a Vitamin C supplement.  If you would like additional information on how to build a healthy immune system, please contact our office at 631-598-7034.