Natural Immunity

IMMUNITY - THE NATURAL WAY

Our body has an amazing immune system that is capable of protecting us from seasonal flu and illness…..if we give it the chance to work to its full potential!  Think about it - have you noticed that some people regularly get the flu whereas others are healthy, season after season? This is because it is the state of your immune system – and not necessarily the virus itself – that determines whether you get sick, even if you come into contact with a virus. 

So what can you do to take advantage of the protective powers of your natural immune system? 

The following will help:  

• Reduce stress levels – yes, stress can be a        natural part of modern life, but try to avoid chronic, prolonged periods of stress and take time out for yourself.
• Get regular exercise, doing something that you enjoy.
• Enjoy the sunshine – vitamin D is essential for a healthy functioning immune system.
• Get enough sleep.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, especially processed, refined white sugars.  High levels of sugar can reduce the effectiveness of your immune response.
• Avoid processed, manufactured foods and stick to whole foods such as organic fruit and vegetables.
• Ensure you are getting lots of vitamin C in your diet.
• Regularly take good quality probiotics for healthy gut flora (preferably a brand recommended by a practitioner)
• Essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 oils (ie fish oils and flaxseed oil) will also assist with maintaining a healthy immune system.
• Talk to your chiropractor about getting adjusted on a regular basis.  Chiropractic aims to remove interference to the nervous system by releasing any misalignments to the spine.  A healthy functioning nervous system is vital for maintaining a healthy, strong immune system.

Let the Kids Play in the Dirt!

Have you ever wondered by children naturally put things in their mouths from a young age? – it is not just because they are teething….
Being exposed to germs, bacteria (and dirt!) helps children to build immunity to their surroundings.  If we rush to sterilise everything, we interrupt this natural process.