9 Ways to Improve Immune System Function

During the thick of winter unsavory microbes are active. These unsavory microbes can only take root and proliferate in a body with a weakened immunity. The word "immunity" basically translates to "protection". There are many supplements you can use to support your body and things you can do to increase overall resilience.

What to Eliminate to Improve Immune System Function

A good place to start is to eliminate immune suppressors. These include foods and life style factors that weaken our ability to fight microbes and disease. First, let's start with diet. Here, we have the usual suspects but I will name them again:

1. Refined Sugar Not only does refined sugar cause nutrient deficiencies in the body, but it feeds unhealthy bacteria and microbes. And where is refined sugar most abundant? Processed foods. By simply staying away from processed foods and drinks you will lower your sugar intake. This simple step can go a long way to improving overall health.

2. Conventional Corn Next on the list of foods to avoid is conventionally grown corn and corn products. Corn may well become the new gluten and almost everyone has a corn sensitivity but doesn’t know it. Eliminate corn and corn derivatives and your health will be the happier for it.

3. Rancid Oils The top four conventional vegetable and cooking oils to look out for are corn, canola, soy and cottonseed oils. These oils go rancid fast and their overuse creates Omega fatty acid imbalances in the body. Rancid oils also produce an oxidative nightmare for the body.

4. Alcohol Avoid excess alcohol consumption. Alcohol is just another form of sugar and it is hard on the liver, kidneys and digestive system. Moderation is key here.

Personal Life and Daily Rhythm Choices to Enhance Immunity 5. Proper Sleep Our sleep patterns greatly effect our overall health and well being. There may be many factors some of which include excessive caffeine, room too bright or too much stimulation before bed to name a few. Sleep provides the body with time rebuild and the psyche time to reset. Sleep is important factor to overall health and optimizing sleep can have many physical, emotional and psychological benefits.

6. Physical Activity Exercise, mobility is important, some great was to engage the body are biking, dancing, walking, skiing or any other activity that keeps you moving. Moving the body, stimulating blood and lymph flow encourage well being. Other benefits of excise include a healthy way to unwind and move unprocessed emotional and mental energy.

7. Fresh Air and Sunshine Maintaining a connection with nature is a great way to encourage health. Being outside in the elements also helps to ground the body, go barefoot (weather permitting) fresh air and sunshine offer vitality to help counter the effects of artificial lighting and unhealthy indoor air.

8. Meditation Reflective time, this may include meditation, prayer or gentle contemplation. Modern science has shown that 20 minutes of meditation a day lowers stress, boost, the immune system and improve telomerase activity.

Starting with a strong foundation we build up. From a strong foundation everything else we add will make a deeper impact. Things to add/include are the builders that help support the framework of a healthy body.

9. Nutrient Foundation Builders Fresh food, local vegetables, fruits and free range proteins. Nutrient dense foods like kale, citrus, berries, broccoli, herbs like cilantro, dill and basil, avocados and more. Sulfur rich plants like garlic, onion and shallots, as well as healthy spices like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black pepper. Other nutrient rich foods to consider fermented cod liver oil, grass fed butter, local honey, free range eggs.

Check back for Part 2 where we will dive deeper into the nutrients, herbs and supplements which support a healthy immune system.