With the cold wind blowing and the snow falling, there’s bound to be a
sniffle in the air. Some people seem to always be battling some kind of
illness from December until March. But others rarely seem to be under
the weather. What are those people doing differently to keep the colds
away?
The secret is out (and it’s not found on a drug store shelf)! There are lots of ways to boost your immunity naturally – many that you can do without too much extra effort (just healthy decision making).
Here are 10 secrets to boosting your immunity this winter.
The secret is out (and it’s not found on a drug store shelf)! There are lots of ways to boost your immunity naturally – many that you can do without too much extra effort (just healthy decision making).
Here are 10 secrets to boosting your immunity this winter.
8. Eat for Health
Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no single food that will instantly upgrade your immune system. But having a balanced diet is a great way to promote overall health (including immune system function!)
I’ll probably sound like a broken record when I say this, but it’s true – eating your fruits and vegetables will boost your immune system. Why? Fruits and veggies are the best sources of the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs for proper function. Eating provides your body with the fuel that it needs to function – comparing vegetables to a twinkie is like comparing premium gasoline to a rubber ducky. There is not comparison (exactly!) Give your body the right nutritional fuel and it will run like a well-oiled machine. Give it garbage and it will roll you right to the junk yard.
Nuts, seeds, and lean, grass-fed meats are also very important in your health diet. They supply an additional spectrum of vitamins that are equally important for body function. Beef supplies the body with a hearty dose of zinc; even a small zinc deficiency can lead to an increased risk of infection. All of these ingredients make a well-rounded diet that can support a healthy, active lifestyle.
There are a few foods that I consider to have immunity super-powers. They aren’t magic, but they are some of nature’s miracles – packed with nutrients and armed with special attributes that are truly beneficial to whole-body health.
Garlic is a great example. It’s considers a nature anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. A British research study of 146 people given either a garlic extract or placebo for 12 weeks revealed that the garlic-takers were 2/3’s less likely to come down with a cold than the placebo group. And it’s tasty – definitely something to add a little extra of when cold season comes around to keep you ahead of the curve.
Mushrooms are another super-power food. For centuries, mushrooms have been viewed as a medicinal remedy in many cultures. Current research shows that mushrooms actually increase the production of white blood cells (infection fighters of the immune system) and promote their activity in immune defense.. Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms have been shown in several studies to improve immune function, including a study of women with breast cancer. Again, another tasty addition with some very happy side-effects.
Sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no single food that will instantly upgrade your immune system. But having a balanced diet is a great way to promote overall health (including immune system function!)
I’ll probably sound like a broken record when I say this, but it’s true – eating your fruits and vegetables will boost your immune system. Why? Fruits and veggies are the best sources of the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs for proper function. Eating provides your body with the fuel that it needs to function – comparing vegetables to a twinkie is like comparing premium gasoline to a rubber ducky. There is not comparison (exactly!) Give your body the right nutritional fuel and it will run like a well-oiled machine. Give it garbage and it will roll you right to the junk yard.
Nuts, seeds, and lean, grass-fed meats are also very important in your health diet. They supply an additional spectrum of vitamins that are equally important for body function. Beef supplies the body with a hearty dose of zinc; even a small zinc deficiency can lead to an increased risk of infection. All of these ingredients make a well-rounded diet that can support a healthy, active lifestyle.
There are a few foods that I consider to have immunity super-powers. They aren’t magic, but they are some of nature’s miracles – packed with nutrients and armed with special attributes that are truly beneficial to whole-body health.
Garlic is a great example. It’s considers a nature anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. A British research study of 146 people given either a garlic extract or placebo for 12 weeks revealed that the garlic-takers were 2/3’s less likely to come down with a cold than the placebo group. And it’s tasty – definitely something to add a little extra of when cold season comes around to keep you ahead of the curve.
Mushrooms are another super-power food. For centuries, mushrooms have been viewed as a medicinal remedy in many cultures. Current research shows that mushrooms actually increase the production of white blood cells (infection fighters of the immune system) and promote their activity in immune defense.. Shiitake and Maitake mushrooms have been shown in several studies to improve immune function, including a study of women with breast cancer. Again, another tasty addition with some very happy side-effects.
Check back later this week for the more ways to power through this cold season (and weather) to maintain a happy, healthy you.
Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.
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