How To Help Build Your Immune System
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When it comes to our health, I believe that we can be the best students of our own bodies. No other person is walking around with our body. It’s vital that we know how our bodies react to certain things. Learning what benefits and supports our immune system and body is key. This post is all about how to help build your immune system. I think we can help strengthen our body’s immunity with a few key additions around the Cold/Flu/Allergy Seasons.
I Love that we have access to Doctors and the specialized practice of Medicine. It’s a Blessing to have practitioners that help us when we don’t know where to start.
Knowing our bodies and some basics of nutrition will serve us well.
How to Help Build Your Immune System: Preparing for the Season
I typically go to the Doctor for either advice, peace of mind, or in an absolute emergency. Frankly becoming a Mom has equaled more Doctor visits.
We know that around a certain time of year that Allergies, Flu, the Common Cold and other sicknesses will have their “season.” In our family I try to get in front of those things the best way I know how. I believe being proactive can help build or boost our Immune system and overall health. You don’t have to wait to feel bad to set your body up for good health.
Building my Family’s Immunity is important to me. During the Allergy Season, it’s a doozie on everyone in our home.
My Husband suffers from constant Sinus Infections and extreme pressure. My son has seasonal allergies and so do I.
Eating Well for Wellness
The most effective approach for us has truly been eating well (lots of vegetables) and having multi vitamins and probiotics in our regular diet. My belief is that building your immunity and gut-health is a great way to help our bodies. Eating well helps our bodies do what our bodies were created to do in the first place. Which is to heal.
If we are not fueling and feeding our bodies well I think it compromises our immune system’s ability to fight off germs. Our philosophy is to keep it as close to natural as we possibly can. I love that Essential Oils, Extracts and things like Apple Cider Vinegar can be used in lieu of unnecessary chemicals.
We opt for a more preventative approach when it comes to our family’s health. Washing our hands as soon as we can is a habit we got into after having our Son. Unfortunately my hands are dry 75% of the time.
How to Help Build Your Immune System: My Recent Experience
I literally just came back from the Doctor after all the things I was doing were not helping to rid me of the pressure and discomfort. Headaches, stopped-up ears, drainage etc. *If you feel bad consult a Medical Professional (read Disclaimer below).*
For about a week I was using a Sinus rinse bottle (Sinus squeeze bottle with saline and Distilled water) daily. This usually helps to just irrigate my nose and typically works well.
Along with these methods:
- Vitamins – We use a Vegan Multi-vitamin and it doesn’t bother our stomachs
- Throat Coat Tea – This is the most Amazing Tea for a sore throat, or cough
- Zicam Nasal Spray Gel – This is really powerful and I love that it’s moisturizing.
- Elderberry and Zinc Gummies – Vegetarian Gummies that pack a punch with this Elderberry and Zinc combination. Great for overall health and Zinc is known to shorten the life a a cold
- Ibuprophen – For aches and specifically Inflammation
- Nasal Rinsing – We use a squeeze bottle but you could purchase a Nettie Pot also. Always use Distilled Water and keep it clean. It works wonders to speed up drainage. We don’t go without this
- Indoor/Outdoor Allergy Medicine – This helps symptoms of flare-ups around hay fever season
With the combination of all that I was taking there wasn’t any relief. My efforts didn’t work so I went to the Doctor to get an Expert’s opinion.
Getting an Expert Opinion
He told me I was doing everything right but the O.T.C allergy medicine alone was not going to cut it. I was not given an antibiotic as he said it was a viral sinus infection.
I was told to keep doing everything that I was doing but to add a Decongestant and Allergy specific nasal spray.
I’m super glad I went and got his opinion on what would [actually] give me some relief!
That’s a prime example of going to the Doctor and getting an expert to help point you in the right direction. I went to the over the counter section and purchased what I needed (the Allegra-D was behind the counter) and try this new regime. And per the Doctor’s advice I added it to what I was already doing.
Being a Student of your Symptoms
When I was younger, I would get Strep throat 3 times or more per year. I could literally feel it coming on before I got full-blown symptoms and a fever. I “just knew” what was going on in my body before I had a Doctor confirm it.It was a cycle which I’m sure you can relate to if you suffer from any allergy issues.
I would venture to say you have had something happen in your health where you pretty much knew what you were dealing with before full-blown symptoms.
That’s a good thing (the knowing part, not the sick part). It means you knew what signs your body was giving you to tell you something was off.
After many scenarios like this I started to develop a system that would at least help me ward off the symptoms for a while. There have been times that I had the symptoms and acted early enough to stop a sickness right in its tracks. I also noticed that helping our immunity on a regular basis simply helped the most.
Our Go-To Health Staples and Remedies
I’m sharing some of our Go-To staples for this time of Season that we use to build our immunity. I hope they can be a Resource for you going into the Allergy, Cold, or Flu Season.
The Diffuser Works Wonders to put a bit of Moisture and Germ fighters in the air. I love that the Sambucus Gummies have Zinc and Vitamin C in the ingredients because it is known to shorten the life of a cold**. Elderberry has so many Antioxidants and Inflammatory Properties which help with sinus pain**. They are also Gelatin free and taste amazing.
I found Throat Coat Tea several years ago and it doesn’t leave our pantry. It is the Best at soothing a sore throat, making it feel less raw and has a slight licorice flavor, but it’s not overbearing. There is also Cinnamon bark in this tea and it imparts a sweet flavor without the addition of sugar. But you could also add honey to this tea. I can not recommend this tea enough!
These are the Go-To Products for the Little
You can click directly on the photo to read more, or purchase these items.
I really lean towards Natural products whenever possible. I love the Chest Rub because it’s moisturizing, smells great, and it’s not as strong smelling as some other rubs. It gets the job done! My toddler doesn’t mind it at all which is a win.
I love Little Remedies products and have used them since my child was a newborn. The pain reliever doesn’t have as many crazy chemicals as some more popular brands and works Great.
Hyland’s products are always in our home. I absolutley Love the AM and PM cold and mucus. I give this to my little right before bed and I notice a Huge difference in his ability to sleep and it relieves his runny nose and congestion within 20 minutes.
With Natural products you do have to administer doses more frequently. But I don’t mind that since they are more natural.
If you are reading this at a different time of year you can Pin it for reference to keep in your back pocket for later!
****Disclaimer: Please keep in mind this is my opinion on what helps me and my Family’s health and immune system. I am not a Doctor and if you feel sick or ill please consult a Medical Professional. I am not making any claims that any of these products will heal you or keep you from getting sick. You should always use your best judgement. This does not supersede any directives by your Family Doctor, or Practitioner of Medicine. This information should Not be used to treat or diagnose any illness. Again, this is what works for our family and is sometimes used in conjunction with a Medical Professionals advice. ****
* * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These product are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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