How Nutrition and Herbs Can Boost Your Immune System

Feeling tired? You may need to boost your immune system!

The immune system is our key defense against illness and disease. It constantly fights off enemy invaders and keeps us in good health. But it can become tired and overworked. Everyday stress, illness and poor nutrition can overburden it and cause it to fail leaving us open for illness, heart disease and even cancer. Proper nutrition, vitamins and herbs can help support the immune system.

Use Nutrition To Boost Your Immune System

Your body uses the food you eat to provide energy for all it’s processes including immune system function. If you are eating processed, sugary, non nutritious foods you body will have a hard time finding anything to make energy from - it will be spending too much time trying to extract nutrients from your food and won't have anything left over to fight disease!

That's why eating lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and vitamins and minerals can boost your immune system and add to your overall health.

Fruits and veggies provide much needed nutrients and are full of antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that can damage your cells. When raw, they contain enzymes that help with digestion and make it easy for your body to absorb the nutrients. When possible, you should eat organic foods as they will have a larger amount of vitamins and minerals than commercial fruits and vegetables. Whole grains, nuts and raw seeds are also full of vital nutrients.

Take vitamin supplements to fill in the gaps where the foods you eat aren't supplying all the vitamins and minerals necessary for good health.

Herbs That Boost Your Immune System

Herbs have many health benefits not the least of which is immune system support. Having been used for centuries, the medicinal properties of herbs have only become well known in western culture recently. Herbs can provide relief from many symptoms and act as a preventative for many others.

Some herbs that boost your immune system include:

Echinacea
This ancient herb is reputed to help fight everything from the common cold to cancer. Well known as an immune system stimulator, it helps to stimulate the white blood cells. It can be taken in a pill or tincture.

Garlic
Garlic has strong antiviral properties and is a powerful immune system enhancer. To get the full value, mash it up and let sit for about 10 minutes then eat it raw. I find it is great to spread along with butter on toast for a garlic bread.

Detoxifying Herbs
Other herbs that help your body rid itself of toxins and thus, boost your immune system, include dandelion, nettle, thyme and juniper.

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