They say change is as good as a holiday, and a change in season is the perfect time to start altering your diet and lifestyle for the better. Taking proactive steps towards boosting your immune system now could make all the difference before the sickly season arrives.

Good nutrition; exercise; getting your fix of essential immune supporting supplements; ensuring quality sleep; and reducing stress will all help to prepare your body for the fight against the nasty winter invaders.

Our immune systems’ are what we eat

The foundation of health and wellbeing is a diverse diet filled with healthy foods. It’s a good idea to go for foods that are in season as this is nature’s way of providing us with the right nutrients for that specific time of year. Vegetables and fruit are important, but they are not the be all and end all of a solid diet; protein and whole grains are also important and have an essential function in building our immune systems. 

Exercise 

Moderate workouts increases circulation and gets white blood cells moving through the body faster, which enables them to detect invaders sooner.

Sleep is essential

Rest and repair takes place during sleep, which keeps your immune system strong and helps to prepare for the fight against the winter invaders. Optimal sleep duration is between 7 and 8 hours per night. 

Stress reduction

Listen to your body when it asks for rest; reading, exercising, and meditation can be effective in stress reduction. Continued high stress lowers your immune system, making you more prone to catching colds and flu.

From our Dispensary:

Natural Immune Boosting Picks and Treatments for this upcoming Winter

1. Fulvic Acid: Fulvic acid is an organic and active chemical compound that forms when organic material breaks down due to humification (composting). It is the end result and smallest particle of the decomposition of ancient organic matter. Due to its incredibly fine molecular structure fulvic acid can cross the blood brain barrier and move easily into the cells, carrying up to sixty times its molecular weight in nutrition. It also bonds to waste, removing heavy metals and other toxins from the body. It is essential in the metabolic processes of the cells. Some benefits are: Increases energy levels, Antioxidant and free radical scavenge, Acts as a broad-spectrum antiviral, Chelates heavy metals and toxins, removing them from the body, Extends the time nutrients remain active – potentiates the availability of essential nutrients. Increases metabolism of proteins, contributing to DNA and RNA synthesis, Is a powerful natural electrolyte and restores electrochemical balance, Increases the activity of a host of enzyme systems, Helps to rebuild the immune system, Increases the bioavailability of nutrients and minerals, Restores, rejuvenates and repairs the skin and body from the inside, Helps to neutralize radiation and reduce or eliminate its effects on the body and protects cognitive health.
2. Probiotic: Pro32 Probiotic is a ground-breaking product and the only probiotic available that contains 9 strains and 32 species of live cultures.  It suppresses pathogen growth and stimulates beneficial microbiota. We believe it to be an essential go to after taking antibiotics, when changing one’s diet as well as during stressful situations. Pro32 is proven effective in the treatment of diarrhoea as well as colds and influenza. The live organisms in Pro32 are all soil based organisms and live on a food source of fulvic acid molasses. The product contains 6 million probiotics per 5ml.
3. Quercetin: Contributes to maintaining a normal immune response to seasonal allergens, while also being an antioxidant and a capillary/blood vessel protectant.
4. RV1162, RV 2263, RV1261 Granules: Extensively used for chronic digestive and energy weakness, chronic indigestion, and chronic mucous problems. Excellent formula for children with digestive weakness, poor appetite and listlessness, and for children prone to mucous who suffer from recurrent sinus, allergies, sore throat and/or ear infections. This formula can be used to treat conditions such as chronic peptic ulcers, colitis, chronic gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome of a weak type, chronic diarrhoea, post gastric surgery debility, morning sickness, poor appetite, flatulence, heartburn, malabsorption syndrome, candida, leaky gut syndrome, chronic bronchitis. Phlegm and mucous congestion in the nasal sinuses and ears. Frequent colds, upper respiratory infections or other infections. This is a widely used and important formula for children. Chronic retention of infection in the respiratory system. This pattern manifests as respiratory allergies – allergic and perennial rhinitis.
5. Immune Formula: A gemmotherapeutic and homeopathic complex remedy to improve immune system functioning especially in children with a weakened immune system, “cresche’ syndrome, and/or chronic allergies. This is a great one for children.
6. Ear Formula: A gemmotherapeutic and homeopathic complex remedy for the treatment of otitis media and earache.
7. Clear Sinus Formula: A gemmotherapeutic and homeopathic complex remedy for infectious and allergic sinus-related symptoms e.g. postnasal drip & resulting cough, continual clearing of the throat, sinus congestion and pain, sinus headaches and painful blocked ears.
8. Nasal Spray: Helps to relieve nasal and sinus congestion, reduces sinus headache, earache, sore throat and postnasal drip associated with sinus infections and Hayfever.
9. Throat and Tonsil Formula: A gemmotherapeutic and homeopathic complex remedy for the treatment of tonsillitis and sore throats.
10. Clear Lung Formula: A gemmotherapeutic and homeopathic complex remedy for the treatment of coughs and bronchitis.