Although getting colds and flus is sometimes unavoidable, don’t surrender to getting sick! Washing your hands to prevent germs from getting inside of you is critical, but once they do, there are many things you can do to fight them off.  Strengthening your immune system can stop bugs in their tracks and help you feel better faster. Here are some things you can do everyday:  

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Your white and red blood cells fight off infection so you need to keep them in tip top shape. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables help keep cells healthy by repairing them so they fend off and attack nasty bugs.   

Avoid sugar. Sugar destroys the ability of our white blood cells to kill germs for up to five hours after eating. It also interferes with the absorbtion of vitamin C – an antioxidant which protects our cells.  

Keep hydrated. Cold air and dry heat can dry out your mucus membranes which provide a natural barrier to infection. Turn your heat down and you may save yourself from getting sick and save some energy at the same time.   

Be kind to your gut. Your intestines play a major part of your immune system and are host to trillions of bacteria. Optimize your ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria by eating whole foods, and fermented foods such as miso or sauerkraut, kefir and yogurt and take a good probiotic. 

Eat immune-boosting foods like garlic and ginger everyday! Garlic helps multiply infection-fighting white blood cells and is an antioxidant which reduces free radicals in your blood stream. Ginger is anti-viral and helps increase sweat production to help you sweat out toxins.    

For more on how you can boost your immune system join me and Dr. Margaux French on Thursday, January 21 from 7:00pm – 9:00 pm for a cooking and wellness class in Portsmouth.  Check out my blog for more details on classes and keep any eye out for more tips to boost your immunity.