Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System

We hear about the immune system frequently. The “system” is your cells, tissues, and organs working like a well-organized team. However, if one of the team members has an issue, then the whole system can malfunction. It is essential to keep your immune system finely tuned and running to perfection. By having the right information at your fingertips and putting together your plan for a healthy immune system, you can ward off many of the viruses, bacteria and even parasites that may try to invade your body.

Natural Remedies To Fix The Most Common Immune System Problems

Some researchers refer to the individual parts of the immune system, as coming together as a highly trained army, ready to do battle at the slightest indication of a threat.

The sole focus of this article will be on natural ways to boost your immune system. There are debates about vaccines that are on-going. No matter what your feelings are regarding this…everyone can benefit from home remedies to make sure their immune system is given all the help it needs to do its job.

Let’s first talk about the things you need to consider. A tired body finds it difficult to ward off the flu. You must get a proper deep sleep every night. If sleep is difficult, then look at doing yoga or meditation before you sleep. The stress levels that occur throughout your day need to be managed. It is challenging to be totally stress-free, yet this is what you need to aim for. Ask yourself the tough questions regarding why you are stressed and what you can eliminate from your life to improve the stress levels?

Two substances affect your immune system in a negative way. It is no secret that smokers must try to quit the habit and those who are around 2nd hand smoke, need to find a way to remove that from their lives. Making sure that your children are not exposed to any type of tobacco smoke will reduce the chances of them having any lung issues like pneumonia. Alcohol consumption is another thing you need to monitor in your life. The immune system will not work correctly if more than the average amount of alcohol is in the system frequently.

Drinking very moderate amounts of wine will help with heart health, and an occasional glass of beer will not hurt.
What you eat can have a fantastic impact on the quality of your immune system. In this article, we will break down the herbs, spices, and other foods that can boost your immune system and keep it highly functional.

Essential Herbs For Your Immune System

Astragalus

This herb is also called “Bei Qi.” It is frequently used during cold and flu seasons as a source to boost the immune system, battle fatigue, and improve your blood counts. Hearty vegetable soups and stews are a must during cold and flu season, so adding astragalus to your favorite soup will get you on the right path.

Basil

Now it is time to talk about a herb that is truly powerful but not on everyone’s mind. There is a good chance you put basil in a few foods like your spaghetti sauce and never think about the health benefits. This great little herb can be grown indoors or out in your garden. It has antibacterial properties. You can use it regularly to boost your immune system. Many people have found it also works to battle a pre-existing infection that may have occurred.

Medicinal Mushrooms

These are different than the small white button mushrooms you frequently buy. Medicinal mushrooms are shiitake and maitake, for example, and they have been used for centuries in Asia, for boosting the immune system. You can slice up fresh mushrooms for your salads or add the dried ones to a hearty soup.

Wheatgrass

This has become very popular at the juice bar in health clubs or at the kiosks that sell different types of smoothies. You need to be aware that wheatgrass is very cheap to grow at home and is excellent for boosting your immune system. Wheatgrass is not easy to blend, so you may find that using a juicer and then chugging the juice works better for you. If the taste is not to your liking, just have a shot of orange juice to chase it with.

Stinging Nettles- This little plant can be grown in your garden. As the leaves have sharp edges, it best to harvest when it is young and then juice it to avoid any pricks that may occur. Many people make tea from dried stinging nettle and then strain it before consuming. It is full of antioxidants that will work to boost your immune system.

Essential Spices For Your Immune System

Cayenne Pepper

There are many different colors of pepper, such as white, black, and red. Most of the peppers are used to season and flavor food or in the case of black pepper…to activate the properties of turmeric. Yes, turmeric is on the go-to list, but first, we need to talk about cayenne pepper. It is a lovely shade of red, or some may say burnt sienna. Unlike black pepper, the ground up cayenne pepper has some heat due to the capsaicin it contains.

It may be suggested to you, that cayenne pepper is what you need to fight the gastrointestinal pathogens that have invaded your digestive system. Those who visit a herbalist or naturopathic practitioner may be advised the circulatory system is not functioning correctly. They may recommend using cayenne pepper, especially during cold and flu season. Your blood flow and healthy white cells are essential in fighting viruses and infections.

Cinnamon

It is difficult to find someone who doesn’t like the taste of cinnamon, as it is used frequently to sweeten desserts and drinks. However, this spice was worth its weight in gold and more, hundreds of years ago, when it was traded on the Spice Road. People who work in the natural health area, usually advise their clients to eat cinnamon combined with organic honey daily. It can be put on your oatmeal in the morning for instance. Both cinnamon and honey have a lot of health benefits besides boosting your immune system. Cinnamon used by itself will act as a defender against bacterial infections and other types of viral invaders to your system.

Garlic

This little bulb is noted for its smell, especially when it is chopped and in the frying pan. For the immune system, it is better to eat garlic raw. Garlic has been identified as having strong antioxidant properties. There are approximately 100 sulfuric compounds in fresh garlic and this gives it bacteria-killing ability. It is also an infection killing spice that was previously used in wartime to treat gangrene. In some countries, raw garlic was consumed to kill intestinal parasites, and this is another reason why it has been considered to be a superstar spice for centuries.

If you are concerned about the effect of raw garlic on your breath, switch to a tea tree-based toothpaste. Tea tree toothpaste is the best for any bad breath issues, but if you really like your toothpaste, just add a few drops of tea tree oil to it before you begin brushing.

Ginger

This spice is another one best consumed raw for its immune-boosting ability. Ginger has its own unique gingerol and shogaols to help fight infections. Another element within the raw ginger, is the 5 primary active volatile oils, making it an infection fighter. You can chew a slice of ginger to get the immune-boosting effects or if you have an upset stomach. Of course, ginger tea, made with raw ginger and honey should be a staple of your diet.

Turmeric

What a spice! It is awesome for inflammatory issues but is also highly rated for your immune system. Turmeric has an abundance of curcumin, which does many good things for your body, including boosting your immune system. For best results, mix your turmeric with a dash of black pepper before adding it to your food or making golden milk. The black pepper helps to activate and absorb the curcumin into your system. Black pepper is similar to curcumin, as they are both alkaloids. At the end of this report, there will be a small bonus section on making the best Golden Milk, with turmeric.

Essential Oils and Tinctures For Your Immune System

Tea Tree Oil

This oil is used for killing bacteria and a multitude of viruses. Tea tree oil can be put on your toothpaste to kill the bacteria in your mouth, and you can get rid of the bad breath. Purchasing a diffuser for your bedside means you can use different oils at night while you sleep. To cleanse your body and boost the immune system, consider using Tea Tree oil in this manner frequently.

Frankincense Essential oil

This is a top-rated oil for boosting your immune system. It works to help you build more white cells, which help you rid yourself of viruses and other harmful elements that are trying to cause havoc in your system. To take it orally, add one or two drops to a teaspoon of honey… preferably organic honey.

Oregano Essential Oil

This is a potent oil, so you may not want to take it orally. You can use a diffuser or apply it to your skin. It is recommended that you add perhaps a bit of lemon oil if you are diffusing so that the scent will not be overpowering. Applying it to your skin, means you need a carrier oil to mix it with first. Try using coconut oil for starters, to dilute the oregano oil.

Tinctures

There are many varieties of tinctures available that help supports the immune system. You can also find easy recipes online to make your very own tincture. Tinctures are made by soaking different parts of a plant in a base of alcohol or vinegar to release the essential elements. Typically they are made of several herbs instead of just one. For example, if you were making your own, you might use dried nettles and echinacea in your first batch. If the results are not what you desire, you can make a batch with more herbs.

To use a store-bought or made by you tincture, put a few drops under your tongue and keep them there for a minute before swallowing. Have a chaser like water or lemonade to flush your mouth with and then swallow it as well.

Food For Your Immune System

In talking about the foods you really need to eat for your immune system, we will be mentioning the vitamins that are specific to boosting immunity. Some of the foods will have more than one vitamin. As we go through the various foods, if there is a unique property to that food, such as selenium, we will cover it. By understanding what each food has to offer, you can then look at combining foods during a meal such as a dinner.

In addition to gaining the most out of the immune-boosting value of the food, you can also control your weight by doing some combining. For optimum health, you eat can fish or shellfish as much as possible, with vegetables. For example, eat maceral or sardines with a side of mixed red bell peppers and button mushrooms.

Broccoli

Consume broccoli to get your vitamin C and make sure to eat it raw or lightly steamed. Cooking broccoli in water depletes its value. It is also known to contain an antioxidant called sulforaphane, which means broccoli has two crucial elements for your immune system.

Button Mushrooms

These versatile white mushrooms can be added to any meal and go great in scrambled eggs or raw in salads. They have B vitamins and selenium that your immune system needs to function at top levels.

Elderberries

We are going to mention elderberries here, although the most common way to use them is via a syrup mixture. The berries come from a small shrub and are one of the go-to sources for boosting the immune system. They pack a powerful punch with flavonoids and help with their anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties. It can be consumed as a tea and even comes in a tablet that is combined with zinc.

Mackerel

This fish has Omega 3 fatty acid as an antioxidant and Coenzyme Q10 to act as a cell protector. Mackerel is one of the best fish to strengthen the immune system and fight infections. Health professionals recommend mackerel to patients who are recovering from an illness or are engaging in life aiding treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Oranges, Lemons, and Kiwi

All three are essential for getting your proper dose of vitamin C. That vitamin is well known for boosting the immune system and making it much harder for cold and flu viruses to invade your body. Out of the three, Kiwi is the best choice because studies have shown it to more potent in maintaining your immune system. It is also full of fiber, and the outer skin is easy to eat and swallow, unlike an orange or lemon. You can eat Kiwi fruit just like an apple, after snipping off the ends and giving it a good scrub under cold water.

Red Bell Peppers

Believe it or not, this pepper has twice the amount of vitamin C that an orange contains. It is best eaten raw or lightly cooked and added to your food. Red peppers can be eaten at any meal. Put them in your scrambled eggs, lunch salad, or night time veggie stir fry.

Sardines

These are a tasty little fish that can be bought in small tins, but of course fresh-caught sardines are the best. They contain selenium and Omega fatty acids. The selenium in sardines has been proven to make the immune system more robust and to be an agent in helping to slow down some cancer growths.

Spinach and Kale

In this portion, we talk about using both these super greens as a team. Some people find kale somewhat bitter, so try making a salad with spinach, kale, and button mushrooms. Spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals that are essential to your body for DNA and proper cell function. Adding in the kale will give you vitamin K to go along with the A and C vitamins in the spinach. Chop these greens up and use extra virgin olive oil instead of a creamy dressing. Extra virgin olive oil is an immune booster in itself and is excellent for heart health.

Watermelon

This is what we call a perfect fruit. It is packed with water and helps to keep you hydrated. It is another food loaded with selenium, plus vitamins A, B, and C. It can be a bit of a messy food to eat; however, if you are going to the gym, try making a watermelon/pure lemon juice/blueberry cooler to take with you. Not only is it refreshing, but it is a powerhouse drink for boosting your immunity.

Yogurt with Probiotics

Eating yogurt with probiotics daily is a great way to boost your immune system. It is even more important for people over the age of 60, according to a study done by scientists in Korea. Their study concludes that the best yogurt for defending against viral infection contains two probiotic strains and one heat-treated “good guy,” bacteria. When incorporating probiotic yogurt in your diet, look to see if it contains…L. paracasei and B.lactis with heat-treated bacteria called, L. plantarum.

Yogurt is a healthy breakfast when you add your own fruit like blueberries or even acai berries, which have their own immunity-boosting power. If you are on the run, one cup of yogurt is your snack instead of a donut.

Drinks to Consider For Your Immune System

Fire Cider

You can buy this immune-boosting cider in the store or customize your own at home. As it has some heat, making it at home allows you to spice it up or down. You need to stock on up on the right ingredients first. That means making sure you have apple cider vinegar, horseradish, ginger, garlic, onions, and cayenne pepper. After reading this, you probably understand why making your own is the best. Some people will love the fire element, while others will undoubtedly be looking for a mild taste.

Now customizing your Fire Cider means that you are not limited to the ingredients above. You can add turmeric, cumin or any type of hot pepper that your taste buds require. If you want to balance the heat out a bit, then try a bit of organic honey. While Fire Cider was first used years ago for only the flu and cold season, many people have decided to use it year-round. Give it a try today and test out different variations.

Golden Milk

While Fire Cider is a folk remedy that has been passed down, Golden Milk comes from the ancient Indian health system of Ayurveda. This means it has been around and frequently used with great results for thousands of years. Golden Milk has less ingredient than Fire Cider but can still be altered to your tastes. The essential ingredients are turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. The base milk can be almond milk or coconut milk for starters. If you want to experiment with taste, some of the other options are to add coconut oil or almonds that have ground to a very fine powder.

Note: This mixture can be hot or cold. You should dedicate an old saucepan and a drinking cup, as it will stain white porcelain.

Bone Broth

This is a drink that has many health benefits, and for the immune system, it is used because bone broth usage, heals small holes in the gut. You may not know the holes are there but may be experiencing stomach issues. When the bone broth heals the stomach up, it means your immune system can stop working so hard to fix the bacterial problems.

When the immune system is in overdrive, eventually, it will weaken, and this will leave the door open for various bacterial diseases and viruses to invade. Basic bone broth is made with beef or chicken bones. The reason chicken soup heals lung infections is due to amino acids that are released from the bones when boiled. It also contains glycine, which helps heal wounds that have occurred.

The bones are placed in a very large pot, with whole onions, ginger, and one carrot. This is brought to a boil and then simmered for a day while skimming off the fat. Once it is done, simply strain and put it into the freezer. If you do not have bone broth already made but start to feel a flu coming on, be sure to make it right away. Bone broth is the best thing for you to drink if you are experiencing bouts of vomiting. It will help keep your strength up.