How to Boost your Immune System

Wouldn't it be nice to feel great all the time? To avoid being sidelined by colds and flu and other common ailments? To stay healthy even when coughs and colds are "going around"?

What is your immune system anyways?

We hear a lot of talk about immune systems, but what is your immune system exactly? Your immune system is the "collection of cells and organs whose role is to protect the body from foreign invaders; includes the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, B and T cells, and antigen-presenting cells" (www.aids.gov). In other words, your immune system is like your body's homeland defense system. It identifies enemy bacteria, microorganisms, parasites and viruses trying to invade your body. It stops them before they enter or works hard to eliminate them when they do. Occasionally an invader, usually bacteria or a virus, will slip through quality control and you get sick.

What weakens your immune system?

It's truly amazing we don't get sick more often given the thousands upon thousands of harmful bacteria and microorganisms we touch, eat, and breathe in everyday. But this incredible defense system has its limits. There are certain things that can weaken it. Some of the more common ones are:

Excessive sugar. Excessive sugar suppresses your immune system by inhibiting the ability of your white blood cells to kill germs by up to a whopping 40%!
Excessive alcohol. Excessive alcohol basically does the same thing; only one more effect is to create an overall nutrient deficiency, which deprives your body of immune-boosting nutrients.
Obesity. Being overweight can affect the ability of your white blood cells to multiply and produce antibodies. This means a slower response time to ridding your body of an infection.
Stress and depression. Both suppress the body's immune system.
Diets. Dieting suppresses the immune system because it means less of everything your body needs - carbs, proteins, vitamins, calcium, etc.

What can you do to boost your immune system?

I hope the fact that dieting can actually make you sick is a comfort to anyone who feels compelled to diet... which is most of us. You don't need to cut calories. You need to cut the junky, sugary, high-fat, processed foods that are harming your body. It's a balanced, healthy diet that's going to give you all the things your body needs and keep you healthy and feeling great all the time... or at least a lot more often.

There are, however, a few things that are particularly important for maintaining your body's immune system. Aside from eliminating refined sugars, excessive alcohol, stress and dieting, there are a few other healthful tips to help you be proactive in your immune system health.

Eat lemons. When your body's pH levels rise above or fall below its normal level it can weaken your immune system. Keep your pH levels in balance with lemons. Squeeze it in your cooking, on salads, in your water glass, etc.
Drink more water and less coffee. If you're a diehard coffee drinker you're going to keep drinking coffee no matter what horrors stories you hear about caffeine robbing nutrients from your body. At least start replacing your second (or third) coffee with something a little better for you like a glass of water. A smoothie is another excellent alternative, as it will hydrate you, give you a better, longer lasting energy kick, and boost your immune system with all its vitamins and nutrients.
Go outside and play. When the weather turns cold, we huddle together inside breathing stale, germ-filled air. And then we wonder why we get sick! Take the time to go outside and get some fresh air. You'll feel invigorated and you'll be doing your immune system a much-deserved favor.
Relax. Your stressful lifestyle could be sucking the life right out of you. Take time every day to relax and do something you enjoy. Take a bath, read a book, go for a walk, watch a movie, learn to knit, or anything else that relaxes you. A little relaxing time a day keeps the viruses away!
Eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables. This is the most important one of all. Nothing else even comes close to measuring up to the nutritional content of raw fruits and vegetables.