Feed the Immune System During Cold and Flu Season
Our immune systems are smart. When exposed to new viruses, our immune system learns to recognize and react to many different strains of the invaders. The system also remembers bugs it has seen before. But, we’re in a mobile society. Each year world travel brings new strains of germs and viruses home, forcing the immune system to deal with new invaders it has never seen.
This is why the Center for Disease Control makes yearly changes to the flu vaccine, hoping to predict which bugs will arrive in the U.S. on a seasonal basis.
A flu vaccine may help during cold and flu season, but there’s no guarantee for full protection. Extra efforts are needed to avoid seasonal germs, including a healthy diet, exercise and nutritional supplements. Here are some suggestions for building up immune system support against seasonal infections and avoid the seasonal flu:
Diet can make a difference. Prevention Magazine recently published a list of immunity-boosting foods, including lean beef (in moderation) for its zinc content, orange vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots for vitamins A and D, mushrooms such as shitakes which may help white blood cells act more aggressively against foreign invaders and a daily cup of black or green tea to provide powerful antioxidant activity.
According to ABC News, turmeric, a rich and flavorful spice, has been used for centuries as part of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicines in addition to being used for cooking. Turmeric is found in every yellow curry, and its golden color is the result of curcumin, a polyphenol with strong cold and flu-fighting properties. Although the mechanism is unclear, a study published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications found that curcumin prevents some immune cells from responding to stimulantsand has some anti-inflammatory effects. Other studies have also shown the immune-boosting properties of curcumin in turmeric, however these results have not been confirmed in humans.
Turmeric is found naturally as the rhizome part of the turmeric plant and looks very similar to ginger. The powdered spice is made by boiling, drying and grinding the root. The power has antiseptic qualities when applied to to cuts, burns and bruises. The spice is available as an encapsulated supplement at health food stores.
In addition to a healthy diet, del-IMMUNE V® may provide significant support to avoid seasonal bugs. The muramyl peptides in del-IMMUNE V® act as switches in the immune system and are responsible for dramatically elevating immune activity in our bodies. This increased activity is critical for fighting many of the germs that infect our bodies—especially seasonal infections caused by immune depression. The addition of del-IMMUNE V® to a daily immune-support regimen can help users achieve year-round health.
