The Body’s immune system is an intricate and intelligent network of cells, organs, and tissues that work together to keep you healthy by protecting you from invasive pathogens. Pathogens include viruses, bacterial and parasitic infections, diseases, and allergies.

When your immune system is compromised or weakened, your body is not quipped to defend itself against or fight opportunistic pathogens. This can lead to sickness, inflammation, chronic fatigue, weakness, and allergic reactions.

Fundamentals for a Strong Immune System

There are ways that you can assist your immune system to remain healthy, work efficiently, and repair itself. You need to start with the basics of a healthy lifestyle. Eat a nutrient dense diet with plenty of fresh produce and lean protein.

Practice good sleep hygiene. Exercise on a regular basis, especially in fresh air and sunshine. And, do whatever you can to manage stress via relaxation, meditation, and socializing with friends and family.

You can also add certain nutritional supplements to support different aspects of your immune system.

Supplements to Support the Immune System

Let’s explore some of the popular supplements you can add to your protocol to improve your immunity. It is important to source your supplements from quality producers that use ingredients that are chemical free and organic if possible. Avoid products with added fillers, dyes, and synthetic ingredients.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has strong antioxidant properties that act to neutralize damaging free radicals that are responsible for disease and inflammation. It is an important vitamin for fighting colds and flus.

You can easily supplement your diet with a vitamin C tablet, capsule, or powder. You can also eat plenty of vitamin C rich foods, such as citrus fruits, berries, dark leafy greens, and richly colored vegetables. Basically, eat the rainbow.

Probiotics

When opportunistic organisms and bacteria in our guts outnumber our friendly bacteria, the entire body becomes imbalanced. Inflammation, fatigue, and irritable bowel can become out of control. A high-quality, refrigerated probiotic supplement is often essential to restore the microbiome.

Once everything is back to normal, continue with probiotics by eating plain yogurt, kefir, and lacto-fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles.

Oregano Oil

Oregano essential oil is another powerful antioxidant. It also has natural antibiotics, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Oregano oil may be the best supplement to combat colds and other upper respiratory infections.

The best way for your body to get the immune supporting benefits of oregano is to add a few drops of the essential oil into your drinking water and sip on it throughout the day. It is important that the oil be diluted, as it is very strong. It is also important that you only use therapeutic or food grade essential oils that are free of concentrated pesticides. Young Living Essential Oils is a trusted producer of high-quality, safe oils for ingestion and topical use.

Garlic

We all know what this aromatic bulb is and how wonderfully it flavors so many dishes. Garlic contains a sulfur compound called allicin that is beneficial in preventing and treating chronic diseases. It is also a good source of vitamin C.

People with cardiovascular disease and cancer are often encouraged to add more garlic to their diets. Many infectious disease protocols, such as for Lyme Disease, include allicin supplements to kill pathogens and address parasites.

Echinacea

Echinacea is a flowering plant with many healing and supportive qualities. Many of echinacea’s chemical components are powerful immune system stimulators. The dried flowers and leaves of Echinacea are often used to treat colds, urinary tract infections, and slow-healing wounds.

This versatile plant is also available in tea form or as a powder in capsules. And, just like oregano, there is echinacea essential oil.

Some Final Thoughts

The human body is amazingly intuitive and able to heal itself. Our immune systems are at the helm when it comes to keeping the body free of disease and inflammation. A compromised immune system can greatly benefit from adopting a healthy lifestyle that also includes supplementation for an added boost.