Our Down to Earth Wellness Teams have put together their favorite immune system boosting tips to share with you! If you have any questions about how all-natural supplements can help improve your health, visit the Wellness Departments at any of our stores.
Exercise, stress relief, a balanced diet and certain supplements are all effective ways to boost your immune system. For your best health, we encourage:
- Exercise – Regular exercise mobilizes T cells, a type of white blood cells which guard the body against infection. However, continuous rigorous workouts can weaken the immune system, so moderation is a key.
- Sleep – A solid 7-8 hours is needed to avoid reducing the activities of T cells in your body.
- Less Stress – Stress can release the hormone cortisol, which negatively affects T cell reproduction. Try yoga, meditation or deep breathing each day to reduce your stress levels.
- Stop smoking – Smoking impairs the immune system, and you have a significantly higher chance of being seriously affected by virus infections.
- Healthier Diet – Vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts are loaded with nutrients essential to immune health. A plant-based diet rich in colorful, fresh, organic food typically will be higher in valuable vitamins. These foods all can help you strengthen your immune system:
- citrus fruits and other fruits rich in vitamin C, such as kiwi, strawberries, and other berries
- red and gold bell peppers and chili peppers
- broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables
- garlic, onions, and leeks
- mushrooms
- ginger and turmeric
- spinach and other dark leafy greens
- papaya
- yogurt and other fermented foods with live active cultures
- almonds
- sunflower and pumpkin seeds
- green tea
- Herbs, Vitamins and Supplements – Getting needed nutrients from foods is ideal, but sometimes supplementing can also help improve immune system function. Here are just a few things you may want to include in your daily regime:
- A good multi-vitamin – Vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, and zinc all help strengthen your immune system, and especially Vitamin C, which you can get from citrus fruits, spinach, and strawberries. We’re fortunate to have lots of warm, sunny days even in the winter, so consider getting outside to help your body produce more Vitamin D. Even just 15 minutes in the sunlight will help!
- Elderberry, Astragalus, Echinacea, mushrooms, and mushroom extracts – all rich in phyto nutrients shown to be very supportive to your immune system.
From our Down to Earth ohana to yours, we wish you improved health and wellness!