As you may be out and about more, going to work or have kids going back to school, it’s important to maintain a focus on strengthening your immune health.

Your immune system works everyday 24/7. It relies on good daily self-care and maintenance by you so it can do its job. It must be properly fueled and supported with a healthy diet and lifestyle. Here are some tips to help ensure optimal function of your immune system.

1. Avoid sugar. Sugar weakens your white blood cells, causing germ fighting cells to act like their hands are tied behind their back for several hours after a single exposure to sugar.

2. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants daily. High quality, organic fruits and vegetables like broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, kale, carrots, potatoes, garlic, oranges, kiwis, and papaya contain antioxidant vitamins C, A, and zinc to support immune health.

3. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a fast way to get run down and opens the door for a de-energized immune system. Aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

4. Stress less. Although this is a stressful time, try to find ways to de-stress. Go for a refreshing walk each day to get exercise. Your body also uses more B vitamins and magnesium when under stress, so extra nutrient support is helpful.

5. Avoid / limit alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption disrupts immune pathways and depresses immune function.

6. Manage weight and blood sugar. Being at a healthy weight and balancing blood sugar helps immune strength. Follow the Leptin Diet (eat a high protein breakfast, 3 meals per day, no snacking, no eating before bed). Make it a priority to go for walks and do weight bearing exercise.

7. Support your immune and lymphatic system’s natural daily function with vitamins A, C, and D, zinc, and arabinogalactan. Daily Protector Eye & Immune and Super Immune Booster make a great foundational team.*

Immune Support Nutrients

Your immune system uses antioxidants everyday. Stress, toxins, dietary challenges, and lifestyle may increase antioxidant needs. Make a game plan for foundational nutrient support.

Daily Protector Eye & Immune includes vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, NAC, lutein, lycopene, and more antioxidants for foundational immune system support for the whole family. Antioxidants are essential for a healthy immune system. The higher your stress level, the more antioxidants you need on a daily basis. Daily Protector Eye & Immune supports immunity, eyesight, and skin. Give your body an antioxidant boost with this daily immune supplement. Dose: 2-6 capsules per day.* (Daily Protector is also in the Daily Super Pack).

Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant for the immune system. Daily Protector Eye & Immune contains 400mg of vitamin C per serving of 2 capsules. We also provide high purity Vitamin C Capsules and Buffered C Tablets in 1,000mg to easily boost your intake. This is especially helpful if you’re under more stress, feeling fatigued, or just want an extra immune boost.*

Super Immune Booster is a favorite immune supplement for daily support. Super Immune Booster contains colostrum, olive leaf extract, beta glucan, and arabinogalactan—a well-rounded combination of nutrients for optimal immune cell function. It supports the healthy function of important immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages. Super Immune Booster dosage is 1-4 capsules up to four times per day. This is an excellent daily immune supplement for the whole family.*

Immune Plus contains the powerhouse nutrient arabinogalactan. This aids in lymph circulation and helps congestion or pressure in the head, neck, shoulders, or chest. There is some arabinogalactan in Super Immune Booster. Extra support is helpful for moving the lymph. If you wake up in the morning with neck/shoulder tightness, that is a sign of lymph congestion. The powder option mixes easily in water and has little taste, also making it a top choice for children. Take before going to school or work. Powder: 1 tsp. to 1 Tbls., up to 4 times per day. Capsules: 1-4 capsules, up to 4 times per day.*

Oregano Oil provides natural immune support for the sinuses and respiratory system. We use a very high quality oregano oil that is extracted by steam distillation and provides a high amount (55-65%) of carvacrol, the most beneficial component.*
Oregano Oil dose is 1-4 softgels per day. Take Oregano Oil with food if you have a sensitive stomach.*

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid nutrient that supports immunity during times of stress. It helps clear excess mucous and congestion and is very active in the sinuses, lungs, skin, and digestive tract. It is also helpful for mild allergies and itchy skin. Quercetin helps stabilize the immune response. It may be taken with Oregano Oil to help sinus health. Dose: 1-6 capsules per day.*

Strengthener Plus contains high quality zinc balanced with copper, MSM sulfur, and silica. A little extra zinc for immune support is a popular method of self-care with good reason. Immune cells deeply depend upon adequate zinc to work. Zinc acts like a gate keeper for your immune system’s biological activity. The presence of adequate zinc turns on numerous functions with your immune system. Strengthener Plus also supports healthy body tissues, hair, and nails.*

Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that provides a wide range of health benefits, including improved immunity, brain nutrition, stress tolerance, blood sugar metabolism, muscle endurance, skin protection, less eye strain, and better cardiovascular fitness. It has been shown to offset the stress of excess fat and sugar on the immune system, helping to keep the immune system active and energized. Dose: 1-4 capsules per day.*

Vitamin D status is also important for immune health. If you’re not getting sunshine daily for at least 15 minutes, consider taking a vitamin D supplement, even in the summer.*

Super Dophilus - Most of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. A healthy gut bacterial balance is essential for a healthy immune system. If you can’t seem to beat sugar cravings, your gut flora is likely out of balance. Super Dophilus is a high-potency probiotic to increase friendly flora and help balance good/ bad bacteria in the gut. You may want to pair this with Oregano Oil to help reduce yeast/candida growth. Avoid dairy, sugar, alcohol and any known food intolerances to reduce the load on the lymphatic system.*

Colloidal Silver is a great product to have on hand. It may be used as needed orally or in a mouth rinse. For a mouth rinse, use Colloidal Silver (1 tsp) in 3-4 ounces of warm water. Gargle with the solution and spit. It may be mixed with Iosol Iodine (one dropper full), and ¼ teaspoon sea salt for an enhanced mouth rinse.*

Take 1 teaspoon Colloidal Silver orally. Repeat up to four times per day. It may be used for maximum of 2 weeks, then take a break.*

Other Tips

Immune system function requires healthy mitochondria, your cellular engines. When you get slammed with fatigue that keeps you grounded on the couch or in bed, this reflects that your immune-mitochondria activity is diverting its energies to fight the battle at hand. Activator Plus is a supplement with amino acids to help energize the immune system. It may be taken daily if you’re feeling worn down.*

Rest and nourishment are critical. Doing too much too soon or being run down in general makes it harder for mitochondria to do their job.

Do not over extend yourself after you are on the mend. All too often, a person goes back to work, has a stressful situation, or starts back on their regular work-out regime only to find that things get flared up again. Give your body a chance to recover. If your energy is solid for a few days, then gradually resume work, exercise and athletic activities.

Continue to avoid sugar and follow a healthy lifestyle to keep up your baseline health. Work to improve sleep, energy, stress tolerance, or other areas of health that may make you feel worn down. A healthy daily routine can strengthen your immune system and improve your overall health.