As the weather turns colder, you may find that your family will be spending less time outside and more time inside with the heater running. Your body’s natural immunity against common illnesses will be put to the test now more than ever, right down to the common cold or flu.
What is Immunity?
Immunity is defined as having resistance to infection or a specific disease; and your immune system is the network within your body that recognizes and destroys invading foreign bacteria, viruses, and germs. The immune system is like no other bodily system, as it is not just one organ but an interaction between many organs, structures, and substances within the body. Your immune system has the task of patrolling and protecting the body. It does this using a number of tools inside your body: white blood cells, bone marrow, the lymphatic system, specialized cells and body tissues and specialized substances that are present in the blood. All of these must work together to protect the body against viral or bacterial infections and disease.
Immunity Status
It’s not difficult to tell when your immune system is being overly taxed; one of the first symptoms is fatigue. Other symptoms to look for include chronic infections, frequent colds and flu, frequent cold sores and sore or swollen lymph glands.
A poorly functioning immune system can be caused by many factors. These can include any of the following:
When your Immune system is not functioning at its best, any exposure to germs, bacterial or viral infections can lead to a serious health risk.
Healthy Changes
There are choices you can make for your family to help them have strong and healthy immune systems. Then, as children bring home bugs from school, your whole family can fight them off successfully.
The first change should be dietary. Food provides energy for our bodies and there are several vitamins and mineral that are a fundamental part of a strong immunity, including the following:
Additional dietary changes that can help support your family’s immune systems include:
Finally, make sleep a high priority for your entire family. Long considered a restorative process that is a fundamental part of a healthy body, recent clinical studies have found that sleep is also a crucial part of a properly functioning immune system. In fact, a sleep-deprived individual’s immune system includes patterns of alteration similar to those found in depressed and alcoholic patients.
The most important thing to remember is that good rest is a prerequisite for a healthy immune system, so begin to establish a simple routine Sunday through Thursday that encourages your child to get their much needed sleep.
Some suggested routines to fight stimulation close to bedtime can include:
Other tips and recommendations
To help support your immune system and keep it operating at peak efficiency, consider the following healthy lifestyle choices for you and your family:
Herbal Remedies
The most popular natural remedy for supporting the immune system is the herbal supplement. These are Mother Nature’s cure for a poorly functioning or overtaxed immune system.
The Chiropractic Factor
Your immune system is a bodily system and as such is controlled by your central nervous system. When your spine is out of alignment or subluxated, your nervous system suffers and this will affect all of your body’s natural systems, including your immune system. Your Doctor of Chiropractic is the only healthcare professional dedicated to the understanding that a properly functioning central nervous system will improve you and your family’s overall health. Many patients report back an improvement in their family’s quality of life after beginning routine wellness Chiropractic care.
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