Supporting your Immune System for the Winter Season

by, Dr. Deborah Diamond D.C.

If you are like me, you are hoping it is possible not to get sick this winter!

When trying to avoid illness our immune system is our best friend!

Did you know that the Rhinovirus that causes the common cold, including a sore throat, runny nose and ear infections, lives inside your nose?

It lives there happily in harmony with us as long as our immune system is strong and keeps it in check.

If we support our overall health and pay special attention to what the Immune System needs to function well, we have a really good chance of staying healthy even if we are exposed to germs which is inevitable.

So, what does our Immune System need?

Here is the list of things I pay attention to in support of my immune System:

• Sleep: Sleep is your secret weapon when it comes to staying well. A minimum of 8 hours starting as close to 10:00 PM as possible (I try to be in bed by 9:30). Eight hours sleep starting at or after midnight is more of a stress on your natural circadian rhythms.
• Hydration: White blood cells, your immune system’s sentinels move more quickly and easily through tissues that are hydrated. Water is best. Herbal tea is good too, but remember, caffeinated or sugary beverages are a diuretic and make you pee out more liquid than you take in and dehydrate you.
• Stay away from sugar: Unfortunately, sugar is very inflammatory and stresses our body and immune system, so do what you can to limit the holiday cookies and eat a delicious fresh apple or pear instead!
• Positive State of Consciousness: I can feel an almost immediate effect on my immune system if I allow myself to dwell in a state of anger or frustration.
• Immune Supporting Supplements: Here are the supplements I make sure I am taking every day to keep my immune system strong:
  • Fat soluble vitamins D, A and K. I am taking and will be carrying in the office a new product called Vitamin D Complete that has all three in an oil base for best absorption.
  • Magnesium (Vitamin D needs Magnesium to be converted to its final active form)
  • Vitamin C with a Bioflavanoid Complex
  • Zinc
  • Probiotic

There are many other herbal or medicinal mushroom combinations that can be added if you feel you need extra support, but the list above are among the foundational supplements that I take each day.

Let’s offer thanks to the incredibly complex, dynamic, intelligent, adaptive and responsive immune system that works unceasingly to protect us and do all we can to help it to do what it does best!