Natural Immunity Guide

As a natural healthcare practitioner we take a preventative approach, working to achieve an optimal state of health and wellbeing and prevent chronic diseases and illness. What we do know when it comes to wanting to avoid any infection or virus, is the most effective tool we have is to build a strong and resiliant immune system, so you can enjoy a healthy winter!

Here are the best natural health practices anyone can incorporate into their life to strengthen their immune system, prevent and/or reduce severity of any cold or flu.

1. Key Immune Supplements
When it comes to strengthening our immunity, there are some key nutrients and antioxidants our immune system requires, and a deficiency in any of these can make you more susceptible to illness.

* Vitamin C
Effective at reducing the length and severity of a cold. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant and is involved in virus killing and preventing viral replication.

* Vitamin D
Our key immune modulator! Vitamin D supplementation is protective against acute respiratory infections like the cold and flu.

* Zinc
Proven to help fight infections, zinc can have a direct anti-viral effect in the body. It's the primary building block for our white blood cells (our immune defence force), and helps to block histamine, reducing runny nose and cough symptoms.

* Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids
Exhibit an anti-inflammatory action in the body, and specifically obtaining these from a Cod Liver Oil supplement is beneficial as it's also a source of Vitamin D and Vitamin A, which both provide immune protection.

When it comes to choosing any vitamins and supplements, it's recommended to consult a qualified Nutritionist as quality and dosage definitely does matter when it comes to getting effective results.

2. A healthy whole food diet
What we eat is of course one of the most important things when it comes to fostering a healthy body and boosting our immune system. We are what we eat, so consuming a healthy unprocessed diet rich in whole foods (lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grains, lean proteins, healthy fats), and limiting processed and packaged foods, refined sugars and trans fats (i.e. fried and fast foods), will help us stay healthy and prevent being susceptible to illnesses. Some specific foods to help boost your immune resilience...

* Garlic, Ginger + Turmeric
These all have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to help fight off bugs and pathogens.

* Homemade Chicken Soup
It's not an old wives tale, the trusty homemade chicken soup really has shown to reduce the severity and duration of the cold or flu.

3. Rest, Rest, Rest
Studies have shown that sleep-deprived people are more than 4 times likely to catch a cold than those who get a satisfactory amount of sleep. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick. We recommend a bedtime of no later than 10pm for a good quality nights sleep.

4. Healthy Digestive System
Our digestive system houses 80% of our immune system, so needless to say this is the final and one of the key parts of having a robust immune system.

* Pre and Probiotics
Supporting a healthy microbiome with pre and probiotics can help fight off any bugs and pathogens. So lots of dietary fibre in the diet is important and you could also take a probiotic supplement daily, specifically one which contains the Lactobacillus Rhamnosus (LGG) strain, a clinically trialled strain for its role in immune modulation.

As always if you have specific concerns or are experiencing recurrent infections or illnesses, then I'd recommend booking in an appointment. We can look into the underlying drivers as to why this is happening, address diet, lifestyle and provide you with a personalised effective treatment plan, so you can have a healthy and happy winter!