8 Ways to Support IMMUNE HEALTH (and why juice is not ideal when sick)
YOUR IMMUNE ARMY
Your immune system is an extremely complex organization of cells that protects your body from invaders and facilitates healing.
Like an army, many types of cells coordinate to scout, fight, and regulate attacks.
The immune system has the challenging job of identifying threats, determining the type and degree of response, and controlling inflammation levels.
SUPPLYING THE ARMY
Much of this process is going on behind the scenes without affecting your daily activities.
When you do get "sick", your body has identified and launched an attack against a pathogen that it deems as a serious threat.
The best way to support immune health is to nourish your body with a wealth of nutrients, which are used up quickly when a response is activated.
IMMUNE SUPPORT TIPS
1. SLEEP
is detoxifying & restorative for your entire body, especially your immune system
2. HYDRATE
with herbal tea, bone broth, or water + electrolytes to support fluid balance & detoxification
3. MINIMIZE SUGAR
because it depletes nutrients & promotes inflammation
Contrary to popular belief, juice is not an ideal drink when sick because it is high in sugar. Instead, sip on warm water or tea with lemon, ginger, and raw honey.
4. GENTLE MOVEMENT
to promote circulation & lymph flow, but not too intense to stress your body
5. DETOX SUPPORT
such as hot & cold showers, dry brushing, sweating, and massage
6. REDUCE STRESS
stress drastically compromises a proper immune response
7. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRIENTS
vitamin C, vitamin D3 & K2, B vitamins, zinc, probiotics
8. IMMUNE-SUPPORTING HERBALS*
echinacea, elderberry, olive leaf, oregano, quercetin, blackseed, medicinal mushrooms
*An autoimmune condition occurs when the immune response is not regulated properly, resulting in an attack on body tissue. Many of these herbals will exacerbate autoimmune reactions.
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References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Dietary Supplements. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/
Jones, D. S., Bland, J. S., & Quinn, S. (2010). Textbook of Functional Medicine. Institute for Functional Medicine.
Gaby, A. R. (2017). Nutritional Medicine (2nd ed.). Fritz Perlberg Publishing.