Boost Your Immune System

Having a healthy immune system will help you minimize your risk of getting sick.  There are a lot of natural ways and lifestyle habits that can help you maintain a healthy immune system.  Diet and exercise are two things that will have a positive impact on your immune system.  When it comes to exercise moderate exercise will have a positive impact on your immune system.  If you overdue it then it could have the opposite effect and you can get run down. It's important to find a healthy balance and spend time working on cardiovascular health, strength training,  and flexibility.  

With regard to diet, eating less processed foods and incorporating more vegetables can be essential to maintaining a healthy immune system.  There's a lot of natural foods that will assist in building a healthy immune system.  Some of those foods include:  

• brocoli 
• ginger
• garlic
• berries (acai and elderberry)  and citrus fruit 
• mushrooms 
• tea
• yogurt
• watermelon 
• spinach 
• sweet potato
• miso
• chicken noodle soup
• turmeric
• pomegranate juice 
• oily fish
• nuts (sunflower and almonds)
• red bell pepper 

It's also important to reduce the amount of sugar and hydrogenated oils that you eat.  Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of nutrition packed into a meal.  If you are limited on time you can order super healthy smoothy mixes already prepared and sent to you at home. 

Daily Harvest is a product that puts all the fruit and veggies into a cup and all you do is add a liquid and blend it together.  Daily Harvest

Along with diet and exercise you can take supplements that will help maintain a healthy immune system.   It's important to buy quality supplements from a reputable company.   Some of the top supplements to take are:

• Vitamin D3
• Turmeric - make sure you buy it standardized with Curcuminoids and Bioperine 
•  Vitamin C, E, and Zinc
• Glutathione
• Probiotics 
• Elderberry 
• Source Natural Wellness Formula (this is a combination of several different ingredients)
• doTERRA OnGuard (I sell this product so contact me if you are interested). 

Getting enough sleep and quality sleep is also important in maintaining a strong immune system.  If you are not sleeping well then you should try to figure out why.  You may need to change some of your daily habits.  Maybe you are eating or exercising too late or close to your bedtime.  You could be drinking too much water or alcohol in the evening.  Make sure you hydrate throughout the day so you don't have to drink too much in the evening.  This could result in waking up to use the bathroom.  It is a known fact that drinking alcohol too close to your bedtime will have a negative impact on your sleep.  You could also try supplements to help with sleep.  Here are a few supplements that help with sleep.

• Melatonin - I don't like to take this all the time because I think your body will get used to it and it doesn't work as well.  Take it for a while then stop taking it for a few months before beginning again.  When you stop alternate it with a different sleep supplement like CBD or GABA.
• GABA - I take a brand called Pharma Gaba by Natural Factors.  
• CBD - I personally like the CBD gummies but you can take it in liquid form too.  I take 50mg but some people find 10 or 25mg works well for them.  I also take this for a while and then I stop and take another supplement for a while before switching back to it. 
• Chamomile tea before bed is good to help improve sleep. 
• Tranquil Sleep is another good supplement and its made by Natural Factors.  You could even take it along with the Pharma GABA. 

Here are a few more lifestyle changes that will help boost your immune system:

• Reducing stress is an important part of keeping your immune system strong.  
• Eating a well balanced diet and maintaining ideal bodyweight.
• Limit alcohol and smoking.
• Some medications such as antibiotics should be supplemented with vitamins to help maintain a healthy immune system. 
• Staying hydrated.
• Reduce sugar intake.
• Get regular massages. 

I sell the OnGuard products by doTERRA and CBD by Crooked Cactus if you are interested in trying these products.  Good luck and stay healthy!

Coach Cyndee