Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System

The rising cost of medical care, health insurance, and prescription drugs, has led to increased trends toward preventative health education, as well as natural and homeopathic remedies. Since a strong, healthy immune system is key to the body's overall wellness, steps should be taken daily to ensure that diet, physical activity, and general lifestyle support increased immunity against illness and disease.

Good nutrition is the number one ingredient for a healthy immune system. Several foods, when added to the diet, can help to strengthen the immune system and replace depleted stores of vitamins, minerals, and friendly bacteria.

* Low-fat yogurt contains high levels of friendly bacteria which help to maintain balance in the stomach and digestive tract. Without these friendly bacteria, natural substances such as yeast can grow unchecked and cause fungus to develop.

* Essential Fatty Acids found in ocean fish such as tuna, salmon, and herring, as well as fish oil, virgin olive oil and organic coconut oil

* Garlic, most effective when consumed raw

* Fiber from fresh fruits and vegetables

* Seaweeds such as kelp, Nori, and Dulse

* Sprouts from seeds, beans, peas, and grasses

* Fresh juices made from vegetables, fruits, and grasses

* Mushrooms which improve cell health

Along with eating foods high in nutrition and drinking plenty of fresh water, it is also important to avoid foods such as sugar, white bread, white rice, alcohol, chocolate, and soft drinks which use up the body's nutrients. Supplements of Vitamin C which strengthen white blood cells and help the body to absorb iron; Vitamin B-complex; Vitamin A; Vitamin E which helps produce antibodies that destroy bacteria; Zinc which increases the production of white blood cells; and Calcium and Magnesium which aid the cells in absorbing Vitamin C, also help to ensure balanced nutrition and strengthen the immune system.

Many herbs are also believed to be beneficial for immune system health: Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng, olive leaf, Echinacea, and Cat's Claw are some of the herbs currently being studied for their immune enhancing properties.

According to Jeremy Maddock, webmaster of Immune Wellness.com, moderate exercise such as jogging and aerobics may also increase the body's natural resistance to infection by activating "the release of immunostimulatory factors." This, in turn, increases killer cell activity, an important part of the body's immune defense system.

Factors such as stress, pollution, drugs (both medicinal and recreational), and lack of proper sleep can significantly weaken the immune system and should be avoided whenever possible. Increased sleep can help to combat the effects of daily stress, allowing the body the extra time needed to repair itself. Bioflavenoids, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, also protect cells against environmental pollutants.

Understanding the factors that affect immune system health is the first step to making the necessary lifestyle changes that will naturally boost the body's defenses.

http://www.healthguidance.org
http://www.healthy.co.uk/produ cts/biobran2.html
http://www.thenaturalhealthpla ce.com/ImmuneSystem.html

Learn more about this author, Carol Wohlfeil.
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