5 tips for a strong immune system
It's that time of year when the flu, colds and other viral maladies "strike" at the populace. What time of the year doesn't it? I don't know about you, but I have noticed that the flu seems to be year round now. Colds always have been. So what can we do to resist these "bugs" that are supposedly attacking us? The answer is: the best immunization you can have is a strong immune system.
Many factors effect immune health. Most are well within our control. We need to stop treating these illnesses as something that jumps out and grabs us and makes us sick, but rather a condition within our body that sets the stage for an infection of any kind to proliferate. Until we do, we will continually dread them and take drastic measures to avoid them, even when those measures have a high probability within themselves of causing the very illness we are trying to avoid!
Our best defense is a powerful offense. That powerful offense is an effective immune system. Every day in our lives we are confronted with things that challenge our immune health. Environmental factors, dietary factors, exposures to the pathogens themselves, stress, lack of rest, a poorly functioning endocrine system, and even poor digestion. In each of these factors we have multiple tools available for supporting, counteracting or influencing, in some manner or another, our immune system. We can provide a powerful offense.
The following are 5 Tips for a Strong Immune System:
Tip No. 1 Control Your Appetite: Many things that are in our diet are there because we have poor self control - especially when it comes to satisfying a little piece of meat in our mouth (called a tongue). In an effort to satisfy taste, we unknowingly suppress immune function. Sugar is one of the biggest culprits, but not the only one. Simply, avoid sugar. Sugar, through many mechanisms is an immune suppressant. Yet when a child is ill, what do we give them? Ice cream, 7UP, Popsicles and Jell-O. It tastes good, goes down easily and cools. This is given because of lack of education regarding the negative effect sugar has on immune function. So we inadvertently prolong the illness, rather than supporting immune function to resolve it.
Eat real foods - fresh vegetables, fruits and non-commercialized meats instead of overly processed nutritionally devoid packaged foods. These processed foods do not supply the vital nutrients necessary to strengthen immune health and contribute to poor health in general.
Tip No. 2: I've run out of room. Stop by our office or our website, www.vitalhealthandfitness.com, to view the complete article. Or, better yet, attend tonight's health class, Immune Boosting Tips, to learn more about these 5 immune boosting tips and others. Class is at 7 p.m. today, Sept. 12. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.
Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 32 years of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health-care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.