Immune Boosters To Keep WiNTer You Feeling Like Summer You
Why do we need to strengthen our immune systems in the winter? Studies show that our immunity can wax and wane depending on the season we’re in. The immune system is technically part of the circulatory system - its tissues move through almost every other system in the body (digestive, endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, etc.). The cold winter weather, coupled with significantly less daylight hours, can really stress our systems - making our bodies more susceptible to adrenal fatigue, low moods, colds, flus and the like.
In holistic wellness, you typically see herbs used to boost immunity and fight infection. This is because plants are potent - herbalism has been used as medicine for centuries. Free radicals and oxidative stress weaken our immune systems and can cause damage to our cellular health, leaving our systems unable to protect us as much as they otherwise would. Antioxidants are very concentrated in plants and herbs - they protect our cells by fighting oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Here are my top 3 immune boosters to get you through the winter months:
Astragalus - protects the respiratory system from infection, supports the liver’s detoxification pathways and fights colds. According to traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus is the herb that is important to take as a preventive, and then especially when you feel something coming on.
Eleuthero - also known as Siberian ginseng, increases vitality & energy. Eleuthero is technically a neuroendocrine regulator herb - so it helps our endocrine (hormone producing) cells communicate with our nerve cells, allowing for greater overall functionality of our nervous system (think: stress response). This makes eleuthero an adaptogen. Adaptogens help our bodies better adapt and respond to internal stressors.
Echinacea & Goldenseal - usually combined together to better fight inflammation in a higher concentration. Echinacea helps the body fight infection and can help to shorten the time you are down for the count with a cold or flu (cough, fever, sore throat, etc.). Goldenseal is antimicrobial, and berberine is one of the key alkaloids it naturally contains to support immunity. (Berberine is being widely used today to support blood sugar control and naturally boost the metabolism).
What do I love most about these tried and true immune boosters? Accessibility. You should be able to find them in liquid tincture form (higher concentration and greater absorption) at Whole Foods or any local health food store. Nature’s Answer is a very accessible brand with consistent quality standards, and many alcohol-free tincture offerings. I love tincture blends to support other systems, but for these to work best to support your immune system, I do believe you should take each as their own tincture for maximum potency. Combine together with a small splash of a dark, tart organic juice to mask the flavor (personal favorites: blueberry pomegranate or dark tart cherry juice).
If you want to add a 4th immune booster to your mix, Organic Olivia’s elderberry immune elixir is a favorite of mine.
*If you do not drink alcohol, be sure to look for alcohol-free tinctures. These have been bio-chelated during extraction and are cut with vegetable glycerin & purified water as an alternative to alcohol.
