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As we near towards Winter, we also move into the heart of the dreaded cold and flu season. That given, there's no reason to resign yourself to living off cold medicine and cough drops for the next few months as there are plenty of natural remedies to help you boost your immune system and stay healthy all season long.
Before we dive in, let me clear up a major misconception about why more people get sick in the winter compared to warmer times of the year: There is no such thing as "catching a cold" from cold. In fact, there are multiple studies that show exposure to cold actually increases your immunity!
So then, why do more people get sick in the winter? There's no crystal clear answer. Some scientists think it's because we tend to stay inside more, giving us more opportunity to expose each other to germs and viruses. Others think it could be tied to the strength of the sun’s rays, and how this affects your health. Whatever the reason, it's nothing you can't beat with a little healthy advice and prevention!
So without further ado, here are seven ways to boost your immune system this season:
1. FOCUS ON VITAMIN D (BUT NOT IN "FORTIFIED" FOODS OR SYNTHETIC FORMS LIKE PILLS)
You might be surprised to know that most people have low vitamin D levels (especially in the Winter). Sometimes dangerously low. Some people I know who thought they were reasonably healthy actually had levels below 20 ng/ml, a range that could severely limit your immune system and hormone balance.
It’s best to get your vitamin D from the sun if you can. The sun is the absolute best source of vitamin D, and it contributes to a powerful strengthening of your immune system when your body can naturally produce vitamin D from moderate sun exposure. When the UVB rays (not UVA rays) from midday sun hit your skin, they react with oils in your skin to produce vitamin D that is slowly absorbed by your body. Note that sunscreens block the ability of your body to produce vitamin D.
If you work in an office from 9 to 5 most days of the week, then most likely you need a supplement of vitamin D. But when it comes to vitamin D, you need to be careful about the artificial forms of it in many supplements, as artificial vitamin forms are almost always either ineffective or even potentially detrimental compared to natural forms. Vitamin D2 is the most common artificial version in multivitamins, although natural D2 does exist in some foods like mushrooms. Natural vitamin D, from either cod liver oil or an oil-based D3 supplement is the best option for supplementing your vitamin D.
The best food sources of natural vitamin D are egg yolks, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, organ meats, and some mushrooms. However, keep in mind that it's tough to get enough vitamin D in the winter from food sources alone.
See original post:
www.gaiam.com
Before we dive in, let me clear up a major misconception about why more people get sick in the winter compared to warmer times of the year: There is no such thing as "catching a cold" from cold. In fact, there are multiple studies that show exposure to cold actually increases your immunity!
So then, why do more people get sick in the winter? There's no crystal clear answer. Some scientists think it's because we tend to stay inside more, giving us more opportunity to expose each other to germs and viruses. Others think it could be tied to the strength of the sun’s rays, and how this affects your health. Whatever the reason, it's nothing you can't beat with a little healthy advice and prevention!
So without further ado, here are seven ways to boost your immune system this season:
1. FOCUS ON VITAMIN D (BUT NOT IN "FORTIFIED" FOODS OR SYNTHETIC FORMS LIKE PILLS)
You might be surprised to know that most people have low vitamin D levels (especially in the Winter). Sometimes dangerously low. Some people I know who thought they were reasonably healthy actually had levels below 20 ng/ml, a range that could severely limit your immune system and hormone balance.
It’s best to get your vitamin D from the sun if you can. The sun is the absolute best source of vitamin D, and it contributes to a powerful strengthening of your immune system when your body can naturally produce vitamin D from moderate sun exposure. When the UVB rays (not UVA rays) from midday sun hit your skin, they react with oils in your skin to produce vitamin D that is slowly absorbed by your body. Note that sunscreens block the ability of your body to produce vitamin D.
If you work in an office from 9 to 5 most days of the week, then most likely you need a supplement of vitamin D. But when it comes to vitamin D, you need to be careful about the artificial forms of it in many supplements, as artificial vitamin forms are almost always either ineffective or even potentially detrimental compared to natural forms. Vitamin D2 is the most common artificial version in multivitamins, although natural D2 does exist in some foods like mushrooms. Natural vitamin D, from either cod liver oil or an oil-based D3 supplement is the best option for supplementing your vitamin D.
The best food sources of natural vitamin D are egg yolks, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, organ meats, and some mushrooms. However, keep in mind that it's tough to get enough vitamin D in the winter from food sources alone.
See original post:
7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System
by: Danette May As we near towards Winter, we also move into the heart of the dreaded cold and flu season. That given, there's no reason to resign yourself to living off cold medicine and cough drops for the next few months as there are plenty of natural remedies to help you boost your immune...
www.gaiam.com
