Tips to Strengthen Your Immune System

Your first line of defense is having a strong immune system.


Lifestyle tips:

  • Get a restful night’s sleep. Sleep is essential for optimal immune health.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Eat cooked, nourishing foods like soups and stews. Avoid processed foods, sugars, alcohol, and inflammatory foods. 
  • Reduce stress as much as possible. Meditation has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, and as a result, helps improve immunity. 
  • Supplement your diet to include vitamins known to fight viral infections and improve immune function. 

Recommended supplements and vitamins:

  • Vitamin C – high in antioxidants and modulates the immune system to fight infection. 
  • Vitamin D – enhances the function of immune cells, including T-cells and macrophages, to protect the body against pathogens.
  • Zinc – needed for immune cell development. It is involved in inflammatory response by helping to mediate neutrophils and natural killer cells. Studies show it may protect against respiratory tract infections.
  • Immunitone Plus by Designs For Health – an herbal formula that is designed to support healthy immune system function. It contains a blend of herbs including echinacea, astragalus, elderberry, and green tea, along with immune supportive mushrooms, cordyceps, shiitake, maitake and reishi. It also contains the herb arabinogalactan, also known as Larch tree, which enhances beneficial gut microflora, specifically Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. An essential part of a strong immune system requires a healthy digestive tract and gut microflora.
  • Immune Support Packets by Designs for Health – These packets contain a comprehensive blend of all the above, along with N-acetylcysteine (NAC – plays a role in antioxidant protection and supports the lungs). It’s taken from a packet once-a-day. I personally don’t like the packaging waste, but it is convenient.

Diet recommendations: 

Aim to eat a variety and rainbow of organic whole foods. Along with being high in nutrients, some of these foods contain kaempferol, phycocyanobilin, and beta-glucans – which studies show may inhibit the coronavirus.

  •  Zinc – seafood, pumpkin seed, sea vegetables, and beans, lentils and legumes
  •  Vitamin D – salmon, fatty fish, egg yolks, cheese (if tolerable), mushrooms.
  •  Vitamin C – oranges, grapefruit, papayas, strawberries, kiwi, cranberries, tomatoes, leafy green vegetables (spinach, bok choy, kale), broccoli, bell peppers.
  • Vitamin A – liver, cod liver oil, mackerel, salmon; beta-carotene: sweet potato, winter squash, kale, collards, carrots.
  • Fresh garlic – crush garlic and wait up to 60 seconds to enhance formation of allicin, a compound found to reduce inflammation and offer antioxidant benefits.
  • Again, avoiding the bad stuff is essential: refined sugar, excess alcohol intake, processed and inflammatory foods.