Boost your immune system

Boost your immune system - Generally with the cold weather come coughs and colds and flu. Healthy lifestyle choices boost your immune system, and can prevent you from coming down with viruses. Autumn is a great time for new beginnings and as the weather cools it is time to kick-start your health.

Annoying coughs, colds and influenza can easily be passed from one person to another and in the Gulf there are people from all nationalities returning from holidays from all over the world which can mean there are viruses from all over the world floating around. So now is a good time to boost your immunity so that if you are unfortunate enough to find that you have caught a virus, you can shake it off quickly.

Your immune system is your body’s natural defense system. It protects your body against infection from bacteria and viruses. When you’re ill, it also fights infection, and helps you to get better. White blood cells engulf and eat up enemy viral and bacterial invaders while others, called B-lymphocytes, make antibodies to target individual bugs.

How vitamin C works

Vitamin C, which keeps our white blood cells working well. For most of us, giving our immune system a kick-start usually begins and ends with popping vitamin C supplements. The key is not waiting until you get sick to make these changes; you need to look at your lifestyle before the cold and flu bugs begin to bite. Many of us wait until we have a cough or cold before we suddenly head to the pharmacist for remedies and extra supplies of vitamin C in supplement form. Vitamin C helps to boost our immunity to bugs. Perhaps this is why, if you do get a cold, taking vitamin C helps reduce the severity and duration of an infection.

Foods are better than dietary supplements for the prevention of colds and flu because you get the whole nutritional package. For example, eating an orange is better for you than just taking vitamin C because the orange offers you a combination of nutrients — magnesium, potassium, foliate, vitamin B6 as well as fiber.

Whilst we know that vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system, studies show that eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C will help to keep your immune system strong. An apple a day keeps the doctor away and is a very handy snack. When I pick up my son from school I always bring a bottle of water and a fruit salad snack. He is a keen sportsman and is always ravenous by the time he gets into the car. Try and make sure that you and your family take some fresh fruit every day.

To keep your immune system strong try to take a regular walk in the cool evening fresh air; research shows that those who take a regular walk are sick less often and a walk also gives you a feeling of well being.

Try to get your five portions of fruit and vegetables, as citrus fruits in particular are great sources of antioxidants, which help combat toxins and boost your immune system. B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium are all important for boosting the immune system. For people living in the Gulf where fruit and vegetables often travel a long way and may lose some nutrients it is good to take a daily multivitamins supplement that provides everything that the body needs. ( arabnews.com )