Immune System | 6 Immune Boosters

6 Immune Boosters

No matter what time of year it is, you can help fight viruses and infections by strengthening your body's natural defense against them.

Have you ever wondered why some people always get sick when it's being "passed around?"

Poor immune system.

You can use boatloads of hand sanitizer or wash your hands until the cows come home, but unless you make sure your immune system is strong, you are a likely target for many a nasty virus or infection.

The great news is that there are some very effective ways to make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape, 12 months a year.

Six Super Immune Boosters

1- Get enough sleep and boost your immune system: 
Nothing can wipe out your immune system faster than inadequate sleep. Turn off the TV and get some decent rest.

  

     

2- Avoid fast food, processed food, sugars, refined carbs and excessive alcohol consumption. 
All of these feed the harmful bacteria in your gut, which can then crowd out your friendly flora and greatly hamper your immune function.

3- Limit antibiotic use for a stronger immune system: 
Sure, they can be life-savers, but antibiotics can also obliterate your immune system because they destroy your immune-boosting beneficial bacteria as well as the illness-causing bacteria.

If you must take them, be sure to help counteract their harmful effects with a good probiotic supplement.

4- De-stress for greater immune response: 
Stress causes your body's protective mucosal barrier to become less effective at defending against unfriendly bacteria and dangerous pathogens. That's why many people get sick when they're really stressed--their bodies literally can't fight off illness as well. 

There are many ways to help de-stress: Meditation, exercise, counseling, deep breathing and seminars, to name a few.

   

5- Make sure you have adequate vitamin B12 to boosts your immune system: 
In addition to helping your body generate energy and keeping your thinking sharp and clear, vitamin B12 is also essential for a strong immune system.

B12 is crucial for the formation of red and white blood cells, which help boost your immune function.

Problem is, as many as 1 out of 4 people are deficient in B12. Especially vulnerable are people over age 50, people who take acid reducers, vegetarians and people who have Crohn's, colitis or IBS.

And even if you eat foods that are rich in B12 or take oral supplements, B12 is not easily absorbed through the GI tract...so chances are good you're getting far less than what you think and what you need.

The easiest way to make sure you have enough is to supplement with a highly absorbable form of B12.

Liquid Spray is an easy to use form of B12. Just few sprays under your tongue give you easy absorption of B12. Look for a product comprised of two of the best forms--hydroxocobalamin (which raises your B12 level faster than other forms) and adenosylcobalamin (the form of B12 most used by your brain).

6- Take a top shelf quality probiotic supplement for immune health: 
One that contains the medical-grade bacteria strains, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, has been shown to stimulate antibody production and enhance phagocytosis (one of your body's weapons for destroying dangerous invaders).

In addition, it should also contain Bifidobacteria Lactis, which has high adhesion to human mucus. That means it will stick to your colon wall to keep it strong and protective, which helps keep wastes, dangerous toxins and bacteria from leaking out into your bloodstream and making you SICK.

Do as much as you can to keep your immune function strong, and you can reap the rewards of fewer or less severe illnesses and quite possibly, avoidance of more dangerous diseases.

Excerpts from Sherry Brescia

http://healthfitnessnme.blogspot.com/2012/07/6-immune-boosters.html
http://www.greattastenopain.com/nl/12/07_09/090312.asp