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How the Immune System Works
Simply stated, the immune system is a complex system of processes within an organism that protects it against diseases. These diseases may originate externally or internally in the body.
To function properly, the immune system must detect a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to worms, and identify these as different and harmful from the organism's healthy tissue.
You can take quality herbs, vitamins, and supplements to boost your immune system, along with eating the proper foods. See our list below for immune boosting tips.
A healthy immune system does this well. A not so healthy immune system may struggle to keep you healthy.
Looking for an Immune System Boost?
Boosting your immune system is not as hard as it sounds.
Choosing a healthy lifestyle is the single best step you can take toward naturally keeping your immune system strong and healthy.
Here are some daily tips to boost your immune system and prevent illness:
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if needed
- Drink alcohol in moderation if you choose to partake
- Hydrate your body well (half of your body weight in ounces per day)
- Get plenty of quality sleep (7-9 hours per night)
- Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer when you cannot
- Cook meats thoroughly to avoid worms and parasites
- Try to reduce stress
What to do if your Immune System is Weak?
If your immune system is low, you will need to take steps to strengthen it.
First, you need to find out why your immune system is weak.
It could be a disease, a parasite, or just being run down, tired and exhausted.
You can have a Live Blood Analysis and/or Tissue Mineral Analysis test along with seeing your doctor in order to find out why your immune system is low.
Then you can start working to boost your immune system using the steps above.
30 Immune System Boosting Foods
Food enters our body through the mouth, is broken down into tiny pieces, and then enters our stomach. The nutrients from the food are absorbed in the stomach and intestines. From they enter blook stream and make their way into your muscles and other cells.
Eat the right foods and your immune system is made stronger. Eat the wrong foods in excess and your immune system is suppressed and damaged.
Here are a few foods that are known to boost the immune system.
- Acai Berry
- Broccoli
- Button Mushrooms (Miatake and Shiitake)
- Carrots
- Chicken Soup
- Citrus Fruits
- Elderberry
- Fruit
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Kiwi
- Low-Fat Yogurt
- Miso
- Nuts (Almonds, Brazil, Sunflower, Walnuts)
- Oysters
- Papaya
- Pomegranate Juice
- Poultry
- Red bell peppers
- Sardines
- Shellfish (lobster, crab, clams, oysters, mussels)
- Spinach
- Sweet Potato
- Tart Cherries
- Tea - White, green, or black
- Herbal tea
- Turmeric
- Vegetables (Green and bright colored)
- Watermelon
- Wheat Germ
Immune System Boosting Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements
Elderberry Tincture and Elderberry Capsules
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) also known as Black Elderberry, has an antioxidant effect and has been used to treat colds, flu, HIV/AIDS, ‘swine’ flu, and many other immune challenges (WebMD). Chemicals in the flower and berries reduce swelling of the sinuses and improve nasal congestion. Some studies reveal that Elderberry properties may include antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Elderberry organic herbal supplement is also available as a tincture (liquid extract) and is part of our Immunity Factors formula. It is a great addition to your family’s natural medicine cabinet for back-to-school and to offer support in cold and flu season.
Alfalfa
Our Organic Alfalfa supplement is also a source of vitamins A, C, E and K4, as well as the minerals calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron. Alfalfa supplements contain high amounts of vitamin K, used by the body to slow blood clotting. Alfalfa supports a healthy immune system, and contains natural plant estrogens, which some researchers believe to be beneficial for menopausal conditions. Alfalfa can assist with supporting the oxygenation of blood and enriching red cell count.
Olive Leaf Tincture and Olive Leaf Capsules
Both the olive leaves and the olive extract have been used to treat infections, inflammation, diabetes, and hypertension. A major component of olive leaf, oleuropein, has antioxidant properties.. Because of its hypoglycemic effects, the leaf extract can induce insulin release and improve peripheral uptake of glucose. Further, the leaf extracts demonstrated antimicrobial properties, anti-HIV and anticancer properties. Animal studies showed antiarrhythmic, spasmolytic, diuretic antihypertensive analgesic and cholesterol-lowering effects.
Garlic Essential Oil and Garlic Capsules
Clinical studies referenced at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) show that garlic can help you to catch less colds, has positive effects on cardiovascular health, reduces cholesterol, reduces blood pressure (for 80% who tried it) and can exert a blood-thinning effect. (See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11697022 and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/).
Garlic has been included for decades in many families' 'home remedies' kit!
Rehmannia Ginger Tincture and Ginger Capsules
Ginger root has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. Ginger root is an effective nausea relief medication that is safe for children, adults, the elderly, and even pregnant women. Ginger soothes upset stomachs. Doctors often recommend that their patients use a combination of ginger and their prescribed anti-nausea medications when they are having surgical treatments such as chemotherapy. Ginger does not produce a lot of side effects and it does not interfere with the effectiveness of most medications. Ginger’s active ingredients are found in the root. Therefore, a supplement made from ginger root extract is recommended.
Kudzu
Kudzu is a fast-growing vine. It can be found growing in the Southeastern portion of the United States. It has been used in China for its medicinal purposes since about 200 B.C. It is used to treat a myriad of health conditions and symptoms. For the flu it will help alleviate: headaches, fevers, nausea, vomiting, upper respiratory infections, diarrhea and intestinal issues, muscle pains, stiff necks.
Be healthy and well with the Immune Power Pack