Natural solutions to help you defend
yourself against colds and flu.
Your immune system is the guardian of your galaxy, protecting your body from all sorts of invaders. So it’s no secret that keeping your immune system strong is vital.
Getting sick too often?
Whether you have a simple cold, the flu that makes you
ache and sweat, or a long-term infection such as Ross
River Fever, it’s a sign that your immune system has
failed to defend you. We are exposed to viruses and
bacteria daily, however, we only get sick sometimes,
and some of us more often than others. This is to do
with how strong and effective your immune system is.
If it’s robust, then even in a crowd of sick people, you
won’t develop symptoms of an infection. However,
if your immune system is struggling, you will get sick
more often and take longer to recover.
The army within
Your immune system is your body’s ‘department of
defence’. It protects you from potentially harmful
invaders by recognising and responding to them as a
threat. When the immune system is functioning well, it
acts like a powerful, well-regulated army consisting of
several highly specialised types of white blood cells.
Do you have weakened defences?
Factors that can contribute to the weakening of your
immune system include:
• Physiological, psychological and emotional stress.
• Lack of exercise (or too much exercise if you
are overtraining).
• Lack of sleep, rest and relaxation.
• Diet low in fresh fruit, vegetables and lean
protein sources.
• Exposure to pollution, cigarette smoke and/or
extremely cold weather
Boosting your immune system naturally
The secret to staying well is to build a strong, healthy
immune system. Natalie can assist you with
advice on diet, exercise and natural supplements that
are specifically designed to boost immune resistance. If
you already have an infection, there are naturally derived
medicines that Natalie can prescribe to reduce
the length of time that you’re sick, and may help to
prevent the infection from recurring.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C increases the activity of infection-
fighting white blood cells; it also inhibits viral
growth and reduces the incidence of the
common cold. Vitamin C has been shown
to be most effective when given with other
nutrients such as zinc.
Zinc
Zinc is crucial for the normal development and
function of your white blood cells. It’s also
critical for the production of antibodies, which
remember previous infections and protect
you against them. Therefore, zinc deficiency
can dramatically reduce your ability to fight
bacteria and viruses. Zinc supplementation
has also been shown to reduce the severity
and duration of colds and sore throats. Your
Practitioner can test your body’s stores of zinc
using a simple taste test. If your zinc test shows
you to be low, then Natalie can give
you a zinc supplement in either a powder
form, tablets or as a special zinc drink to
improve your zinc levels quickly and effectively.
Astragalus membranaceus
Astragalus has been traditionally used
for centuries in China to support healthy
immune function. It’s very effective for
boosting immunity in people who have
had chronic, long term infections.
Andrographis paniculata
This herb has a long history of use for viral
and bacterial infections. Andrographis is effective in
treating cold symptoms, including sneezing, runny
nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, hoarseness,
chill, headache and fever. An important finding is
that Andrographis, at a dose of 6 g daily, works just
as well as paracetamol for the treatment of fever and
sore throat in upper respiratory tract infections.
Medicinal mushrooms
Certain medicinal mushroom extracts (e.g. shiitake,
Reishi, Coriolus, AHCC™) have a powerful effect on
the immune system by enhancing the activity of
protective white blood cells. These mushroom
extracts can be used to treat acute infections.
They can also be taken daily as a remedy for chronic
immune weakness to maintain good health.
Probiotics – beneficial
bacteria for healthy immunity
You may have heard of the ‘friendly bacteria’
or probiotics that live in your digestive system.
These beneficial bacteria help keep your digestive
system healthy, help you digest your food and
keep your immune system in tip-top condition.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®), Lactobacillus
plantarum (HEAL 9), Lactobacillus paracasei (8700:2)
are all types of probiotics that have been proven
to help support healthy immunity.
LGG® is a registered trademark of Chr. Hansen A/S.
Some other helpful tips!
🍎 Eat a diet high in colourful fruits and vegetables.
🙅 Avoid sugars, white flour and excess alcohol. These foods are very low in nutrients and deplete your immune system.
😟 Avoid or minimise stress. Stress hormones inhibit the function of all aspects of immunity.
🏃♂️ Exercise regularly.
💦Increase your water intake to six to eight glasses per day.
😴 Get enough sleep. Your immune system does its repair and rebuilding while you’re asleep at night.
Reference: Metagenics Boosting Immunity Brochure
