I know what you’re thinking. It’s been YEARS since you stuffed your new notebook and pencils into a backpack and headed back to school.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare your immune system too. Because even if you aren’t catching a school bus every day someone in your life likely is.
The source could be your own kids, a grandkid or a coworker’s child. But chances are an onslaught of new bugs that can make you sick are in your future.
It may still be summertime outside those windows. But NOW is the time to prepare to ward off the back to school blues by beefing up your immunities.
4 potent nutrients to boost your immune system
Following are four powerful nutrients for an ironclad immune system. Get started today and you could stay healthy all fall and winter long.
1. Vitamin D:
As summertime winds down, most of us spend less time outdoors. And that means our vitamin D levels can start to drop just when we need them the most.
Running low on vitamin D weakens your immune system. And that means your body can have trouble fighting off those flu bugs and cold viruses that start popping up in the fall.
And the low D side effects don’t end there. Experts say low levels of vitamin D likely contribute to seasonal depression too. And depression in turn can suppress your immune system ever further, according to researchers.
You can raise your D levels and boost your immune system at the same time by eating more cold-water, wild-caught fatty fish such as trout salmon and mackerel. Or by taking cod liver oil or a vitamin D supplement instead.
2. Vitamin A:
Sniffles and sneezes, courtesy of the common cold, spread like wildfire this time year. To get out ahead of upper respiratory infections try bumping up your vitamin A levels.
Experts say vitamin A, combined with zinc, may help reduce respiratory infections. In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition the combo reduced colds in a group of school kids by 20 percent.
Boost your immune system by eating more foods rich in beta carotene which converts to vitamin A, as well as vitamin A rich foods. These foods include beef liver, cod liver oil, mackerel, winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, collards, kale and spinach.
3. Probiotics:
Our understanding of the importance of the good bacteria that live in our bellies is growing daily. We now understand they play a powerful role in our health, and are essential for a strong and healthy immune system.
But modern living can really do a number on your belly bugs. Your diet, exposure to chemicals, drugs and even stress can upset the balance of your gut flora. And that can leave you vulnerable to illness and disease.
To support a healthy gut and immune system you can start eating more probiotic friendly foods. These include yogurt, kefir, tempeh, kombucha tea, fermented pickles, raw sauerkraut and raw pastured butter.
You can also add a daily probiotic supplement to your routine. And at the same time discourage bad bacteria from thriving with foods rich in short-chain saturated fats such as coconut oil and butter.
4. Vitamin C:
We know that vitamin C is essential for a strong healthy immune system. But experts are still debating whether, or not, raising your vitamin C levels can ward off a cold.
What they CAN all agree on, however, is that if you do get whacked with a cold virus getting more C could significantly shorten the amount of time you’re under the weather. Combine that vitamin C with zinc at the first sign of a cold, clinically proven to shorten the duration of colds too, and you’ll be feeling better fast.
It’s easy to raise the amount of vitamin C in your diet. Foods rich in C include kale, red bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple, mangoes, Brussels sprouts and strawberries. And should you still find yourself starting to sniffle you might want to consider taking a supplement too.
Fall is just around the corner, and with kids heading back to school cold and flu season isn’t far behind. Don’t get caught off guard. Begin to boost your immune system to help fight off sickening germs starting today.
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