Ways to Boost Your Immune Defenses During Cold & Flu Season

Ways to Boost Your Immune Defenses During Cold & Flu Season

Prioritizing your immune system is always a good idea, especially when the weather starts to get cold and wet. Your immune system is basically your body’s defense against infections. When you’re unwell, it produces antibodies designed to attack any viruses, bacteria or toxins that are making you sick. It’s a complex system involving many different functions within the body – and lots of things can affect how it’s working and, in turn, how you feel. Use these expert tips to help your body maintain strong immune defenses during cold & flu season.

Reduce Stress And Get Enough Rest

Reducing stress and getting lots of rest is key to immune health. These days, it’s hard not to get overwhelmed once in a while. Between juggling work, family, and other commitments, you can become too stressed out and busy. Long-term stress has been shown to promote inflammation as well as imbalances in immune cell function. The best thing you can do to prevent stress from hurting your immune system is manage your stress.

Stress Relief

If you need extra help in combating stress, consider taking fermented supplements such as Symbio® Fermented Ashwagandha which helps to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve focus. Alternatively, try Living Alchemy’s Stress Less, an award-winning supplement that includes multiple fermented activated adaptogens targeted to support the adrenal system to help manage stress levels and reduce restlessness and anxiety.

Sleep Is Essential

Sleep and immunity are closely tied. It seems that getting adequate rest may strengthen your natural immunity, while lack of sleep can negatively affect your immune system. Studies show that people who don't get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.

Stay Hydrated

Most people understand that regularly drinking enough water is important for overall health, but the benefits of staying optimally hydrated specifically for keeping your immune system functioning at an optimal level are perhaps less well known. The average adult’s body is made up of 60% water, thus water is vital for the functioning of all of your organs. Drinking water and staying hydrated not only allows your body to receive electrolytes and helps your bodily functions to run at optimal levels, but also helps your body naturally eliminate toxins and other bacteria that may cause illness — especially during cold and flu season. One of the biggest barriers to drinking enough water is that people often complain about how it tastes. Lemon water is a great way to add some flavour and natural vitamin C into your diet, which in turn helps boost the immune system and fight off pathogens.

Strengthen Your Gut With Fermented Supplements And Whole Foods

What you choose to eat and drink is one of the most important lifestyle decisions that influence your immune health. In fact, according to research conducted in 2021, 70 percent of your immune system is in the gastrointestinal tract, located in the lining of your gut. The beneficial bacteria and microorganisms that live there defend your gut from infection and support the immune system, while low amounts can leave you at risk to viruses, chronic inflammation and even autoimmune disorders. A strong immune system relies heavily on having a healthy, well-functioning gut.

You can also try kombucha. This popular fermented drink contains high levels of probiotic bacteria and offers health benefits as an added bonus. Here’s one recipe made from kombucha and Living Alchemy’s TURMERIC Alive to help you stay hydrated and provide you with added antioxidants, phytonutrients, probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes.

Fermented Whole Foods

Consider adding more fermented whole foods and supplements to your cold prevention arsenal through your diet. The importance of fermented foods in our diet has been widely recognized because they are rich in beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which populate your digestive tract. Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help reduce inflammation and prevent infection, and they may also reduce the severity of a cold or flu. Fermented whole foods also have bioavailable nutrients that our body can absorb more readily, supporting gut flora, creating an optimal foundation for digestion and contributing to a resilient immune system.

Fermented Supplements

Fermented supplements are great accompaniments to fermented whole foods to build up your immune system. Living Alchemy uses a unique Kefir-Kombucha fermentation method, combining diverse strains of live microorganisms to convert a select blend of certified organic foods and herbs into a living matrix of bio-activated nutrients, enzymes, and beneficial flora. By taking fermented supplements, not only are you boosting your immune system, you are also giving your digestive system extra help.

Daily Immune Support

An excellent way to support your immune system this cold and flu season is by supplementing your diet with Living Alchemy’s DEFENSE. This supplement contains a special formula that provides therapeutic nutrients from fermented, activated organic herbs such as oregano, thyme, garlic, and cloves, plus organic shiitake mushrooms and other non-medicinal ingredients to help with infections and keep your defenses up and your body healthy.
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