6 Ways To Super Charge Your Immune System

Cold and flu season are upon us and lets face it, no one likes waking up with sinus congestion, a sore throat, fever, or that feeling like you are going to have to run to the bathroom at any given moment. Cold and flu symptoms make us feel miserable, but remember, if you have a fever, the fever is not the disease; it is actually a mechanism your body has to fight off infections; same with nasal congestion, mucus production, vomiting, and diarrhea. So instead waiting until you are sick and taking cold and flu medications to suppress your immune system during this cold and flu season, here are five ways to super charge your immune system. Remember, it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Benjamin Franklin

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Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can be a powerful way to boost your body's immune system. About 50% of coconut oil is made up of an amazing substance called lauric acid and it is some pretty amazing stuff. In fact, the only other place that it is found in abundance is in breast milk and it's one of the substances that helps kick start a baby's immune system. When you consume coconut oil, the body turns lauric acid into a substance called monolaurin which can be a powerful antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal substance. Here is what WebMD has to say about monolaurin: "Monolaurin is used for preventing and treating colds (the common cold), flu(influenza), swine flue, herpes, shingles, and other infections. It is also used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome and to boost the immune system"It is always best to take the highest quality form of coconut oil to get the maximum benefit. In one tablespoon of coconut oil, there is 6-8 grams of lauric acid, and taking three to five tablespoons a day should be adequate. I have found the most convenient ways to take coconut oil is either to warm some up so it liquefies and mix in a little raw honey and take it directly, or to put a scoop or two into a healthy smoothie. It is especially helpful when dealing with sore throats or the stomach flu.

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Vitamin D

While vitamin C has the reputation for boosting the immune system, there has recently been a lot of research showing the benefit of have high levels of Vitamin D in the body and some believe that it has the ability to boost the immune system up to three to five times! Vitamin D, known as "the sunshine vitamin", has long been known to help people who have Tuberculosis, but now its benefits are being more widely understood. Vitamin D is now believed to play a role in activating and helping to regulate the body's immune system, and there are even links between chronic low levels of Vitamin D and autoimmune disorders. When it comes to elevating your Vitamin D levels it is best to take it in the form of D3, and also make sure you get as much exposure to sunlight as you can during these long winter months. Some foods that have high levels of Vitamin D are eggs, mushrooms, cod liver oil, and fish.
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Essential Oils

Essential oils are oils that are extracted from different plants and many have medicinal and health benefits. Some of the best oils for cold and flu season are oregano oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, and lavender oil to name a few. Many companies even sell blends of different oils for different health problems. Be sure to use a high quality oil from a reputable company for best results and do some research on the most effective way to use the each oils for the problem you are having.

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Increase Gut Health

Most people don't think of their GI tract when they think of their immune system, but about 70% of the body's immune system is found in the gut. So, it would make sense that doing things to ensure your gut is healthy will also help to boost your body's germ fighting ability. The first step in increasing your gut health is to eliminate things that actually damage your gut as much as possible. Things like alcohol, NSAIDS (aspirin and ibuprofen), high sugar diets, and certain types of grains. These types of substances can damage the cells that line the intestines and can also create a hostile environment for the good bacteria that live in your gut and boost immune function.  Other than eliminating harmful substances, there are certain things that you can take that will help to repair damage to your gut and encourage the growth and development of good gut bacteria. Besides taking probiotic supplements, some foods that help encourage good gut bacteria are kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, and apple cider vinegar. Other supplements that may help to repair damage to the gut lining are glutamine, zinc, and aloe. 

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Garlic

Another immune boosting super food is garlic. Its benefits as an antibacterial and antiviral agent have long been known and used, and the research agrees. Even though it is available in a capsule, eating garlic in its raw form will produce the greatest benefit. In addition to boosting your germ fighting power, garlic helps to regulate blood sugar, can fight off heart disease, promote thyroid health, and even help prevent certain types of cancer. So whether you are looking to fight off a simple cold, ward off vampires, or just add some flavor to your meal you can't go wrong with choosing garlic.

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Chiropractic Adjustments

When people think of chiropractic, most think of back and neck pain, but did you know for over 100 years people of all ages have been using chiropractic care for its immune boosting ability? In fact, dating back to the early 1900's, people who were sick with aliments like the flu, colds, bronchitis, or pneumonia would visit their chiropractor to help ensure a speedy recovery. Recent studies are proving what many people have long known about chiropractic's positive effect on the immune system; like increased levels of certain antibodies and immune cells, increased lymphatic flow, and reduced effects of stress on the body (which can suppress the body's ability to fight off infection). Speaking from personal experience, I have seen chiropractic care help sinuses drain, help with chronic chest colds, ear infections, and less days home from school or work due to illness. 

When the body is out of harmony it will be more susceptible to infections and diseases. Chiropractic helps take stress off the body and allows for a higher level of health expression which can give a boost to the overall function of the body including your immune system.