The immune system is our primary barrier against harmful viruses and bacteria that we encounter. In addition, the immune system helps control our inflammatory response to an injury that results in damaged tissues. The best kinds of foods to eat are those that do not over-stimulate our immune system, and therefor do not aggravate an auto-immune condition. By eating foods that have a modulating effect on the immune system, we end up with a immune system that is strong, efficient, and balanced without causing any negative side effects.
Vitamin C
Humans are one of the only animals who cannot produce their own endogenous supply of Vitamin C. We must get it from external sources like food or through supplementation. White blood cells rely upon Vitamin C in order to both defend and fight foreign bodies. In addition to this, Vitamin C is an important component in controlling inflammatory responses to damaged tissues.
Vitamin C, is also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is found in many types of fruits and vegetables. It acts as an antioxidant to neutralize free radicals. Your body also uses vitamin C to synthesize important compounds like collagen, a type of structural protein that makes up connective tissue and aids in wound healing. Vitamin C is also needed for the production of other compounds, such as neurotransmitters and L-carnitine.
Ongoing research has uncovered a multitude of potential vitamin C benefits and has found that getting enough in your diet can boost the immune system, help improve skin health, support your adrenals, and even protect against certain conditions. A good place to find a good Vitamin C supplement is http://LabDoor.com
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fats, like Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), are important for the body in many ways. They are one of the most unrecognized immune system boosters. In addition to supporting a healthy immune response, DHA supports eye health, improves mood, builds healthy brain tissue, and supports joint health. Another benefit of DHA is its ability to help lower inflammation. And chronic inflammation is often a cause of an overly active immune system which can lead to things like autoimmunity and allergies.
You body doesn’t produce Omega 3 fats on it’s own, which means you must consume them in order to be healthy. The best food sources include wild caught fish, walnuts, chia seeds, egg yolks, flax seeds, natto (fermented soy beans), and hemp seeds. Most people don’t get enough Omega 3 fats, so you may want to supplement. Some common Omega 3 supplements are krill oil, salmon fish oil, and cod liver oil. Again, http://LabDoor.com contains a list of tested and scored Omega 3 supplements.
Probiotics
You’ve probably heard by now that the gut microbiome is an important part of the immune system. The bacterial balance of the gut helps to prevent harmful substances (including pathogens) from entering the bloodstream through the digestive tract. Having too many unhealthy bacteria can cause chronic inflammation and lead to autoimmune conditions.
Probiotics are a type of organism that can help boost the amount of beneficial bacteria in your gut. They are found in fermented foods like sauerkraut, tempeh, natto, misoSome of the potential benefits of probiotics are reduced allergy severity, enhanced regularity, better mental health, stronger immune system, reduced cholesterol levels, and improved digestion.
Adding a probiotic supplement into your routine can bring some big benefits when it comes to your health. Unfortunately, not all probiotics are created equal. Check the ingredients label carefully and avoid supplements with extra ingredients, preservatives and fillers. http://LabDoor.com has a list of tested and rated probiotics. There are many different strains of probiotic bacteria. Good functional medicine doctors know which strains will work best for certain conditions. If you are choosing on your own, I’d rotate probiotic supplements to try and get a good variety of probiotics, prebiotics, and spore based probiotics.
Spirulina
Spirulina is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world. It is a fresh water blue-green algae that is adaptable to its environment, yet very basic in its biology. It contains a full array of vitamins, minerals, and powerful pigmented compounds. These pigmented compounds are called phycocyanins and anthocyanins and are extremely powerful antioxidants. In addition to providing an abundance of nutrients and antioxidants, spirulina also helps to maintain a healthy bacterial balance in the gut.
Spirulina has been well-researched for its many potential benefits. Some of the most significant are: boosts memory and is neuroprotective, boosts energy, reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, detoxes heavy metals, alleviates sinus issues, eliminates candida, and boosts the immune system. You may have seen spirulina as an ingredient in your energy bars, green super drinks, and natural supplements. If your health is challenged in any way, the benefits of spirulina are so profound that you might want to consider consuming it on a daily basis. As always, make sure you get the highest quality possible to ensure maximum benefit.
Vitamin D
Sunlight is absolutely vital for proper immune function. Getting sun exposure in the morning primes the circadian rhythm to support optimal sleep at night. Additionally, sunlight assists in the formation of Vitamin D which has immune modulating benefits as well. And vitamin D is one of the most important micronutrients when it comes to your health. It’s involved in just about everything, from the immune system to brain function, and researchers are still regularly turning up new ways that vitamin D affects your well-being.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It’s unique in that it actually acts as a steroid hormone rather than just a vitamin in the body and is involved in everything from weight management to bone health. If you’re not out in the sun with exposed skin at least twice a week for 5 to 30 minutes, you can add vitamin D rich foods to your diet. Turns out that foods rich in Vitamin D are pretty much the same foods listed above that are rich in Omega 3 fats – minus the seeds and nuts. Or you can supplement with Vitamin D. In addition to the brands scored and rated on http://LabDoor.com , there are high quality physician grade supplement by companies like Thorne Research and Biotics Research. There are also functional medicine doctors that formulate and sell a complete line of supplements like Dr Mercola (https://www.mercola.com/) and Dr Josh Axe (https://draxe.com/).
Did this help you? If so, I’d greatly appreciate it if you commented and/or share it on social media.
Email: sharonledwards@hotmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonledwardsbiz/