10 Ways to Support Your Immune System Naturally |  |
| 10 Ways to Support Your Immune System Naturally Posted: 15 Sep 2014 04:01 PM PDT  Your immune system is your frontline of defense against environmental toxins and harmful microorganisms. Unfortunately, the toxins present in today's world are weakening the human immune system at an ever-increasing rate and there's only so much we can do to control what we’re exposed to on a daily basis. On the flip side, certain tools and supplements may help and support your immune system.
10 Ways to Boost Your Immune System NaturallyA healthy diet devoid of refined sugar and processed foods is one of the best ways to keep your immune system functioning properly. Physical exercise is also important for supporting your body's natural defenses. While these two methods are helpful, they aren't always enough. In a world where toxins run rampant and exposure is difficult to avoid, we really need to take extra precautions. Here are 10 ways to support your immune system naturally: 1. ProbioticsThe "good" bacteria in your gut — known as "probiotics" — are responsible for supporting digestion, combating harmful organisms, and keeping your immune system in check. Considering that 70% majority of your immune system resides in your gut, maintaining a balance of probiotic bacteria is essential for keeping your immune defenses in working order. [1] Some research has shown probiotics to be a helpful tool for supporting respiratory health for infants. [2] Probiotic-rich foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, and kefir, or a high-quality, probiotic supplement can help balance your ratio of good to bad bacteria. 2. Intestinal CleansingWhether you're on the road, at your computer, eating, or sleeping on toxic mattress, it's a safe bet that you're exposed to toxins 24 hours a day;. Most toxins can become blocked in your intestines, leading to a toxic, sick body. This can degrade the action of your immune system and weaken your defense mechanisms. Regular intestinal cleansing with an oxygen based colon cleanser, like Oxy-Powder®, can support your immune system by providing a balanced, clean environment for probiotic bacteria to thrive. The positive benefits of intestinal cleansing with Oxy-Powder® are enhanced when it's paired with a good probiotic supplement. 3. Organic Oregano OilOregano oil is one of the most antioxidant-rich oils on the planet and extremely helpful for defending your immune cells. [3] In addition, it has been shown to protect the body against dangerous organisms present in food and the environment. Organic oregano oil is powerful because it contains a compound called carvacrol, which has been shown to support balance between good and bad bacteria. [4] 4. EnzymesEnzymes are essential for digestion and metabolic function and recent research even suggests they're helpful for supporting your immune system. [5] Part of the reason for this is because, as you get older, your body produces less of its own enzymes. Supplementing that gap may help you absorb more immune-supporting nutrients from your food, not to mention support the reactions of your immune system. As mentioned, your gut is where 70% of your immune system originates, so introducing enzymes to support gut health and digestion only makes sense. I recommend VeganZyme®, it's the most advanced full-spectrum systemic and digestive enzyme formula in the world. 5. Colloidal SilverColloidal silver acts as a sort of secondary defense for your immune system by helping defend against the harmful organisms that attack and test it. [6] By being an extra shield, colloidal silver not only helps take the burden off of your immune system, but promotes overall body health. I use and recommend Silver Fuzion®. 6. Purified Water with Raw, Organic Apple Cider VinegarMixing raw apple cider vinegar (ACV) with purified water is a helpful tonic for supporting your immune system. Raw ACV is loaded with enzymes and prebiotic bacteria, both of which have been shown to support your immune system by promoting intestinal balance. ACV also helps to balance your body's pH and transition it into a more alkaline state — which is absolutely crucial for a healthy immune system response. Mix 1 to 2 tbsp. of raw ACV with 8 ounces of purified distilled water and consume daily, preferably using a straw so the acidic ACV avoids contact with your teeth. 7. Reduce Your Stress LevelsEmotional, mental, and physical stress all takes its toll and can age you — and your immune system — beyond your years. Research has shown that immune activity drastically decreases in times of stress, so finding ways to deal with stress is important for keeping your body strong and resistant. [7] While stress is part of life and can never be totally avoided, deal with it positively by practicing meditation, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. 8. SleepThe importance of sleep simply cannot be overstated. Sleep resets your entire system and provides an avenue through which you can relieve stress and improve not only your immune system, but your overall health. [8] Without adequate sleep, your immune system will suffer and be far more susceptible to invading toxins and harmful organisms. In general, seven or eight hours of sleep each night satisfies most people. 9. JuicingOne of the most powerful ways you can revolutionize your health is by juicing raw vegetables and fruits. This is an awesome way to give the cells in your body the most concentrated, live, and bioavailable nutrients and antioxidants available — nutrition necessary for your body and your immune system to operate effectively. Make sure to make leafy green vegetables a foundation in each recipe as they are a good source of vitamin C, a much-needed antioxidant and nutrient necessary for immune health. [9] 10. Vitamin DVitamin D, or the "sunshine vitamin" is another nutrient that keeps your immune system strong and a vitamin D deficiency is known to be specifically detrimental to your body's natural protective mechanisms. [10] Exposure to sunlight is the best way to encourage your body to produce vitamin D, but it's not always accessible. Vitamin D supplementation is an easy way to fill the gaps, and make sure to choose vitamin D3 over vitamin D2. Support Your Immune System TodayYour immune system is your body's security system. It defends against invading toxins and, when they do get in, it kicks them out before they can do any real damage. What's more, the quality of your immune system relies on you — what you eat, what you think, and what you expose yourself to. When you start examining this list and condensing it down, it doesn't take long to see that promoting the health of your immune system isn't much different than promoting your overall health. Give yourself good nutrition, appropriate supplementation, physical fitness, and a de-stressed mind; these tactics are absolutely powerful for transforming your health and catapulting you into a more energetic, vibrant state of life. How do you stay healthy? Leave a comment below and share your experience! -Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM References:
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| How to Combat Bloating Naturally Posted: 15 Sep 2014 01:47 PM PDT  That uncomfortable feeling of your stomach being stretched to the breaking point, of your clothes fitting too tightly, and the burning nausea and cramping that accompanies bloating are all-too common issues for many people today. Pharmacy shelves are full of various bloating remedies, and doctors' offices are packed with patients suffering from the common complaint. Drugs and over-the-counter medications may provide temporary relief, but if you're not dealing with the underlying concerns, you are only setting yourself up for more bloating. First, though, we need to clarify that there are serious physical conditions that can cause bloating, such as an intestinal blockage, abdominal tumor, edema (abnormal collection of fluids in tissues), previous surgery for reflux, or gastroparesis, in which the bowel’s ability to move food through (motility) is defective. More so, controllable factors seem to be the most important contributors to bloating, such as diet and lack of exercise. What Causes Bloating?The fact that bloating is becoming a more frequent and widespread phenomenon gives us the clue to its cause. Doctors often blame air swallowing — but why would we suddenly have an epidemic of air swallowing? It really makes no sense. Then, of course, there’s the acid reflux issue. That’s a serious problem, but it isn’t a result of excess acid. Stomach acid is often seen as a hindrance; however, the exact opposite is true. We need stomach acid in order to break down the food we eat. If you take something to reduce the acid, your ability to digest food is disrupted. So, do everything possible to avoid acid-fighting medications, whether over-the-counter or prescribed, because you’ll put yourself into a vicious cycle leading to a lifetime of chronic ill health. What’s really behind a bloated tummy in most cases? It’s the modern diet. It’s full of carbohydrates and additives, many of which are toxic. The heart of your digestive system is the bacteria that do most of the digestive work. If they receive the wrong foods (processed, devoid of fiber), they don’t respond well. Just one of those responses is gas and bloating. Permanently Resolve BloatingThe assumption that swallowing air causes bloating rarely makes sense, because it doesn’t explain how air seemingly expands somewhere in the gut. The gas of bloating is excessive, and that comes from eating the wrong foods. The wrong foods are ones that aren’t natural to humans. In a natural diet, there are no added chemicals. There are also no refined sugars, and what sugars do exist are tightly bound in the flesh of plants and fruits, so there is no sudden rush of sugar entering the blood. A natural diet includes little to no grains, and what grains that are included should be free from gluten. Think about it: Grains require a great deal of processing to make them edible and, until agriculture was developed, they were difficult to harvest. They could not have been a significant part of our ancestors’ diet. Yet, they are now the bulk of most people’s diets. Worse, the grains most people eat are processed. The modern diet is behind a huge amount of modern chronic disease and, of course, bloating. Bloating is an indication that you aren’t feeding the trillions of beneficial bacteria that inhabit your gut. If they aren’t healthy, they produce excess gas to let you know it! So, if you really want to end bloating, there is one thing you must do: change your diet. Eat a healthy diet of natural foods with lots of good, healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants. These health-supporting nutrients cannot be obtained in most processed foods, not in their natural form, anyway. Prepared foods, including those from fast food joints and most restaurants, need to be eliminated. Until you do that, you can expect your bloating to return. The Quick Way to Get Over a Bloated TummyThere is one trick that works for a large percentage of people for reducing bloating, though it sounds highly contradictory — apple cider vinegar! Simply taking a tablespoon of pure apple cider vinegar may arrest the pain and bloating within a few minutes. There will be a bit of burn at first, but it doesn’t last. If you’re like most people, you’ll be stunned at how quickly it happens. Why does it work? The problem that usually causes tummy pain is not too much stomach acid, but too little stomach acid. So, taking a bit of apple cider vinegar regularly takes care of the problem. Of course, that’s only a temporary fix. Ultimately, if you want to end the misery of stomach bloating, you must change your diet. Stop eating junk food! That includes about 90% of what’s found in supermarkets, and nearly 100% of what’s in fast food joints—including most of the stuff they sell as healthy. What are your go-to remedies for bloating? Let us know in the comments! -Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM The post How to Combat Bloating Naturally appeared first on Natural Health & Organic Living Blog. |
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