J.4/ Immune Health
Improving your immune health is not a ‘one size fits all’, every one is different and therefore you need to have a personalised plan for you. Whether you want to avoid getting sick, you frequently are unwell, or you’re exposed to people frequently that are unwell, there are natural treatments that may suit you.
Boosting your immunity doesn’t have to be specifically in winter, it can be done year round, although you may think colds and the flu are around just in winter but you can get unwell anytime. Generally speaking keeping up a healthy diet and making sure you’re active can be enough but for some people they may need the extra top of nutrients or medicinal herbs every now and again.
Working on your lifestyle and diet is always a nice simple place to start, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night and down time. This can play a huge role in your immune health, adequate rest allows our body to heal and focus on what it needs to do. Eating a varied diet full of in season fruit and vegetables, enough protein, plenty of water and complex carbohydrates will ensure your body has enough macro nutrients to stay balanced. Movement is not only great for your muscle density, mood, digestion but also it helps your immune health, getting outside will give you an extra boost of Vitamin D too.
Immune supplements shouldn’t need to be taken all year round rather take them when you’re feeling your first signs of illness or if you know you’ve around someone that has been ill, that way you can prepare your body just in case. Using immune products just when you’re sick will mean they can work more effectively, I like to suggest saving them until when needed and then go hard to help you get better faster and reduce symptoms. There are some things you can take off and on regularly during the year to help support your health and wellbeing such as, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, a good quality multivitamin, B Vitamins, Magnesium and for short periods small doses of Zinc.
For when you do have that tickle in your throat, a fever, a headache, body aches, runny nose, fatigue or sinus congestion, you know it’s time to go in with big guns. As always seek professional advice from an experienced Naturopath before undertaking any natural medicine treatments so you know you’re taking, good quality products, the right amount and not over doing it with products. The main supplements I suggest are Vitamin C, Zinc and Vitamin D, alongside specific Medicinal Herbs such as Echinacea, Andrographis, Olive Leaf, Mushrooms, just to name a few.
Enhancing your Immune System can be done simply all year round but it’s important to know when to start adding in the heavy duty supplements to ensure you reduce the severity and timeframe of the illness. It’s also important to note simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference you don’t always need have supplements everyday for the entire year, remember food is medicine.
