Ways to Keep your Immune System Healthy and Strong

Spring into Healthy

I am sharing some ways to keep your family healthy and in shape for Spring.

I am a huge believer in the power of vitamins, herbs, and whole foods to keep your immune system strong and your body healthy and happy.  It is incredibly important to boost your immune system, especially during this time of year when illnesses are rampant. If you were to come to my home, you would probably be surprised at the number of vitamins and herbs in my kitchen!

Let me take you back to December. We all know the holidays can be extremely busy and filled with holiday parties and neighbor goodie plates. It is usually the time of year we neglect our own health!

It was Christmas Eve and after a busy night of prepping for the day ahead, I finally laid down on my pillow to finally get some sleep. I was beyond exhausted. My life had been a whirlwind the past two months and my body was paying the price. I kept myself so busy that I had completely neglected my own personal health. I felt sick and exhausted. My typical mind-body wellness habits were out the window.

I stayed awake for awhile, jotting down all of my ideas on how I was going to get back on track. I didn’t feel good and I wanted a change. I couldn’t wait to rediscover the amazing feeling I get when I focus on taking care of my body and mind.  I made a goal to begin taking my vitamins and herbs daily, to workout 5 days a week, to get better sleep, and to eat whole foods. I am here to tell you that those little changes have made a world of difference in how I feel.

I am sharing ways to keep your immune system healthy and strong.

1. Boost your Immune System.

Keeping your immune system healthy and strong during this time of year is especially important.   My Dad worked for 45 years before retiring and rarely ever took a “sick day” He always tells me that he has his “secret weapons.” As soon as he begins to feel sick, he takes a good amount of Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea. Kroger stores sell Emergen-C and I always make sure we have some on hand. I have been able to keep sicknesses at bay this Winter by taking these vitamins at the first sign of illness. By taking these vitamins, it is a great way to boost your immune system.

What does Zinc do?

It is an effective natural cold remedy and boosts the immune system. It helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

What are the health benefits of Vitamin C?

Vitamin C helps support healthy immune function.  According to studies, it has been shown to lessen the duration and symptoms of the common cold, if taken early enough. It is a powerful immune system booster. It fights against viruses. Eat those oranges and strawberries and take your Vitamin C!

What are the health benefits of Echinacea?

Echinacea is a plant that is known for its powerful immune boosting properties.  It helps with the production of antibodies, known for blocking viral infections. Studies show that taking echinacea or drinking echinacea tea can shorten the duration of the common cold.

2. Drink Herbal Teas. 

High-quality herbal teas can help you fight off illnesses and make you feel better if you do become sick.  Some of my favorite immune-boosting teas are Yogi Breathe Deep, which supports respiratory health, and Traditional Medicinals Breath Easy.  Echinacea or Ginger Teas are also known for their immune system benefits.

 

What should I take at the first sign of the cold or flu?

If you start feeling the sore tickle in your throat or an achy body, start taking Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D, and Echinacea right away.  L-lysine is an essential amino acid.  It has antiviral properties which help fight infection.  A supplement, Super Lysine Immune Support, which contains Vitamin C, Calcium, Garlic, L-Lysine, Echinacea, and Licorice is also good to take at the first sign of sickness. You can find it at your local Kroger’s store, or through the Wellness Your Way website.

Kroger stores also offer freshly squeezed orange juice, which is a perfect drink, to keep your immune system strong.  They also offer a wide variety of juice drinks.

3. Move your body. 

Another way we keep our family of six healthy and strong is to work out together. My oldest daughter always says, “the family that works out together, stays together.” It is a little family joke but whenever we are on vacation, we work out together.  It may be working out with some hand weights, climbing a mountain, running, or just taking a walk. We always encourage each other along the way.

My husband and I made a goal to work out together 5 times per week at 5:30 am. It isn’t easy to wake-up when it is dark outside but it feels so great once we are done. It is amazing what a workout you can get with only a set of hand weights! It has made us feel so much stronger and our mind clearer to accomplish what we need to during the day.  Did you know that you can buy hand weights in the health department at your local Kroger store?  I found weights varying in sizes from 3 lbs. – 15 lbs. and everything in between. Exercise can be a great immune system booster.

4. Get more SLEEP. Why is sleep so important?

Another key component to staying healthy is getting enough sleep. Our bodies go into repair mode while we sleep so that is why we are more susceptible to sickness when we are tired.  I always tell my kids as soon as they begin to feel an illness coming on to take their vitamins and get to bed.

Since we live such busy lifestyles, sometimes it is hard to get the perfect amount of sleep our body needs.  My husband and I made it a goal to get to bed at a certain time every single night. They key is to get the body ready for sleep. I have found that Epsom Salt Baths with lavender help me relax my mind and body.  If I am having a tough time getting to sleep, taking natural melatonin helps me sleep better.

I am so thankful for the way that I feel when I follow a healthy lifestyle! You can find all of these products online at the Wellness Your Way website.  You can also order these products through ClickList. If you haven’t tried ClickList, it is such a timesaver! Find out more information about Clicklist here.  I also tell all of my friends about the Fry’s (it may be called Kroger, Smith’s, Ralph’s, etc) app available in the app store. It lists all of the products, prices, and location within the store of everything available in Kroger stores. I can send my daughter with a list and she knows the price and exactly where to go in the store to locate the product. It is genius!

I would love to hear from you! How do you keep your family healthy and strong during the Winter and Spring months?