3 Ways To Fortify Your Immune System

Evading colds, coughs and the flu can often feel like an uphill battle, whether sickness is going through the office, bugs are going around daycare/school or you’re feeling run-down and more susceptible than usual. If you have inadequate immune defences, it can increase the chance of infection and take longer for your body to recover. Fortunately, arming yourself with these three ways to fortify your immune response can help you to conquer illnesses that may come your way.

1. Take Minerals And Vitamins To Boost Immunity

When immune cells are enlisted for battle, their potential for success comes from having enough nutritional support to rally a robust army. Specifically, a combination of zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D along with regular protein intake can make the difference between an immune army that barely made it through bootcamp versus a squad that gets the job done. Highlighting their importance, a 2022 review of 85 human studies, concluded that zinc and vitamins C and D enable many anti-viral mechanisms, and their deficiency tends to worsen patient outcomes.¹ It can be hard to obtain optimal nutrient status through diet alone, so supplementing with Meta Zinc With Vitamin C, can help to strengthen your immune defences.

2. Use Natural Medicine To Build Resistance

When it comes to reducing fever, cough, sore throat and thick phlegm, the herb Andrographis packs a punch. In a review of 33 clinical trials, it was shown to speed up recovery and shorten the duration of cold symptoms.² Andro NK is a potent herbal formula containing Andrographis that stimulates your immune defences, which can help lessen the severity of the common cold.

Medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, cordyceps, coriolus and shiitake have been used in traditional Chinese medicine over many centuries to help:

• Manage mild upper respiratory tract infections (reishi³ and coriolus⁴);
• Relieve mucus congestion (reishi⁵ and cordyceps³);
• Support the immune system (shiitake⁶); and,
• Enhance energy and stamina and reduce fatigue (cordyceps⁷).

Super Mushroom Complex blends these four mushrooms together, helping to support your immune response and help with a healthy recovery from illness.

3. Engage Your Gut Bacteria

It might surprise you to learn that the gut is the key to your immune health with around 70% of your immune system living within your gut. Your resident bacteria and other microscopic organisms, known as your microbiome, directly interact with your immune army. This affects your overall immune response against infection. Put simply, a healthy gut microbiome full of diverse beneficial bacteria helps to build immune function, whilst a compromised microbiome can hinder your immune army’s response against infection. Ultra Flora Immune Enhance contains an exclusive combination of three immune-stimulating probiotic strains that have been shown to support a healthy microbiome, enhance healthy immune system function and reduce the severity of common cold symptoms.

Feel Fully Fortified and Ready For When An Infection Hits

Equip yourself with immune-enhancing lifestyle changes, dietary decisions & natural products by consulting a Natural Healthcare Practitioner. Qualified to identify the weaknesses in your defence, your Practitioner can advise you of the best plan for your needs. They can also recommend supplements and vitamins to boost immunity paired with practical self-care strategies, providing you with an added edge when fending off sickness.

References

1. Pedrosa LFC, Barros ANAB, Leite-Lais L. Nutritional risk of vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium deficiency on risk and clinical outcomes of COVID-19: A narrative review. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022;47:9-27. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.11.003.
2. Hu XY, Wu RH, Logue M, Blondel C, Lai LYW, Stuart B, et al. Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017;12(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181780.
3. Hempen CH, Fischer T. A materia medica for Chinese medicine: plants, minerals and animal products. Edinburgh (UK): Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone; 2009. p. 436-37.
4. Chu KK, Ho SS, Chow AH. Coriolus versicolor: a medicinal mushroom with promising immunotherapeutic values. J Clin Pharmacol. 2002;42(9):976-84. Review. PMID: 12211223.
5. Bensky D, Clavey S, Stoger E, Gamble A. Chinese herbal medicine materia medica 3rd ed. Seattle (WA): Eastland Press; 2004 p. 935-37.
6. Braun L, Cohen M. Herbs and natural supplements: an evidence-based guide. 3rd ed. Sydney (AU): Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone; 2015. p. 61-63.
7. Cordyceps. In: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database [database on the Internet]. Stockton (CA): Therapeutic Research Faculty; 1995-2008 [cited 21 July 2024] Available from: http://www.naturaldatabase.com. subscription required to view.