Because health care is about managing your health, not Illness…
Follow these 7 steps to boost your immune health
Maintain a Robust Vitamin D Level
Although there is some disagreement over what constitutes a healthy Vitamin D level, it is generally agreed that a blood level between 50-80 ng/ml is considered therapeutic. Like many other bodily systems (musculoskeletal, heart, bone and nervous), your immune system is dependent upon a healthy Vitamin D level. So do yourself and your immune system a favor and find out what your Vitamin D level is ASAP (maybe even before getting in line for the flu shot!). Once you know your D level (it will show up as (25OH) D on your lab results), you will know whether you need to supplement or not. If you don’t have a recent Vitamin D level, let us know. Dr. Gosselin has partnered with DoctorsData Inc to provide test kits that you can use to test your Vitamin D level from the comfort of your home. It’s a simple finger stick test kit that you can do at home for $45.
2. Avoid Sugar and Processed Foods
There is no lack of scientific data correlating the adverse effects of sugar on the immune system. Processed foods are frequently empty calories that deprive your body of the much needed nutrients that your immune system requires to function properly. Both sugar and processed foods create an internal environment that favors infection and weakens the immune response required to successfully fight the common cold and flu.
3. Use An Immune Enhancing Food Plan
Choose from a wide variety of real whole foods that support your immune system – lots of veggies, some fruit, minimal whole unprocessed grains, nuts, seeds, some legumes, healthy fats and quality protein. Make sure to get enough of the foods rich in Vitamin C and Zinc since both of these nutrients are extra helpful to the immune system.
4. Get Enough Rest
Many studies also document the negative effect on the immune system due to an inadequate amount &/or poor quality of sleep. Many of your bodily systems require a regular amount of “down-time” for the purpose of repair and rejuvenation. This usually happens during your sleep cycle. Not enough sleep or poor quality sleep can significantly impair your ability to ward off infection as well as compromise your ability to recover quickly. Learn more at “Start here for a good night’s sleep”
5. Manage Stress Effectively
How you view and handle stressful events is ultimately more important than how much stress you experience. Incorporating stress reduction techniques into your daily routine can go a long way to minimizing the deleterious effects of stress on the immune system. It’s never too late to re-discover how to normalize the stress response.
6. Take a Hike! OR at Least a Walk
Whether it’s aerobic for the cardiovascular system, stretching for flexibility, resistance training for strengthening or walking for weight-bearing, physical activity of any sort will increase your circulation of virus-fighting immune cells and improve your lymphatic drainage. Sore feet and achy joints? Ask us about custom-made orthotics using our state-of-art digital scanner technology.
7. Use a High Quality Probiotic Daily
Did you know that over 50% of all your circulating immune cells hang out in the lining of your intestines? One of the best assurances to a healthy immune system is to ensure that you have adequate numbers of the beneficial bacteria that normally live in the intestines and benefit your gut ecology on many levels.
Considering getting the flu shot? Read “Should I Get The Flu Shot This Year?”