5 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

Its coming. The dreaded cold and flu season. Its the time of year that some people dread for the months prior. They freak out and jump at the first chance they get to get the flu shot.

I am not one of those people. I avoid drugs as much as I can in any given situation if there is a more natural and reasonable option than pumping myself full of chemicals and toxins. I am the one who is always all up in your Facebook telling you how to get rid of your child's teething pain or your sinus infection*.

The cold and flu season is no different. There is always a reason your immune system allowed those sickies into your system and most likely it is because there is a deficiency somewhere. Of course the long winter months also ust take a toll on us as humans and that can affect everything from your mood to your health.

The thing is, its pretty simple to give your immune system a little boost to keep up and keep you going. Here are 5 ways to easily boost your immune system for the fall and winter months. Be sure and so you will have it handy!

1. Take a little Vitamin D. That good ole vitamin that our body makes so readily in the sunnier months dramatically decreases in the winter months. Partly because we stay more covered up and partly because the Sun has moved a little farther away making it harder for our bodies to process the light and create vitamin D. Supplementing with vitamin D is never a bad idea but it is especially needed during the flu season. Vitamin D can slash your risk of getting the flu by 42 percent has been tested to be 800% more effective than vaccines at preventing influenza infections in children.

2. Add some virgin coconut oil. Lauric acid, a rare saturated fat found in virgin coconut oil, helps to boost the immune system and protects it from a variety of illnesses and diseases. It also promotes good heart health, lowers cholesterol and speeds up the metabolism. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which helps in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. Coconut oil can be added to any food but my favorite is to toss grilled or roasted veggies in it and serve them.

3. Garlic it up! Now, before you crinkle up your nose at this one, consider that you can get garlic in capsule form that won't make you smell or you can just make a conscious effort to add it a little more liberally when you do use it. Garlic is a powerful immune booster that stimulates the body's production of infection-fighting white cells, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production.

4. Keep up with your omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike many other vitamins and nutrients, the body cannot make its own omega-3's. When taken together with vitamin E, the omega-3 fatty acids in flax oil and fatty fish act as immune boosters by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up bacteria. Omega-3s are especially beneficial if you have other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis or lupus, as well.

5. Get more sleep. The easiest and cheapest way to boost your immune system is to hit the hay a little earlier. In simple terms, sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function and keeps your body from creating the antibodies it needs to help keep you healthy.

*Man made drugs do have their place in this world. You should also always consult your doctor if you are on drugs before starting any other treatments! I am so not a doctor.

All images found via Google