As
the cold and flu season is upon us, we are all looking to stay healthy
and strong. There are a few simple things we can all do to strengthen
our immune systems and keep ourselves as healthy as possible. These
include proper nutrition, drinking enough water and exercising.
I want to focus on the nutrition aspect of boosting your immune system.
Prevention is the key, and there is a lot to be said about our daily
nutrition to keep us healthy and strong. Darkly colored vegetables
contain vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants our bodies crave. Fresh
juicing will feed and cleanse the system, while grains in breads and
stews give us some of the B vitamins.
Assuming you are eating well, there are also other steps you can take
to strengthen your immune system. I am only going to list a few of
the herbs and supplements, but even taking these few can make a great
difference.
Elderberry is an anti-viral and can prevent viruses from attaching
to your cells and replicating. It is an astringent, immune stimulant,
and an expectorant. Olive Leaf Extract is another anti-viral herb.
It has also been shown to lower high blood pressure and lower high
cholesterol. Olive Leaf is non-toxic, but it may inactivate antibiotics,
so it should not be taken with them. This herb should also not be
taken with Coumadin. Echinacea
is well known for its immune stimulating effects. It assists the body
in conditions where the immune system is challenged, as in inflammation,
infections, colds or allergies. It can prevent or shorten the duration
of colds or flu.
There are many other herbs that can be used in preventing colds and
flu, but most importantly, we need to be supporting our bodies every
day with a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Water intake
is very important as well, to keep our cells hydrated and healthy.
Sleep is our bodies’ natural requirement for effective prevention
and speedy recuperation.
Listen
to your body, and give sleep a higher priority. This is time for the
body to rest and heal itself.
Please be aware of any drug/antibiotic you may be on while taking
these herbs. The information on drug/herb interactions and these herbs
may be found in the Therapeutic Herb Manual, by Ed Smith and researched
by Michael Murray, ND in the Healing Power of Herbs.
I hope you and your families can stay healthy in this winter season.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.
