Top Ways Functional Medicine Helps Boost Immunity Against Influenza In Mobile County

The effects of the cold and flu season can leave people feeling miserable for several days. While taking over-the-counter cold medicine may lessen the symptoms for a time, this medicine can also lessen your ability to fight another cold later on. Functional medicine can help boost immunity to fight colds and influenza symptoms.

Why Do I Always Deal With Influenza During the Winter?

Virus and germs spread from one person to another in many ways. A simple cough or sneeze can spread to another person without you even knowing it. From the moment you touch something or someone who carries the virus, you could catch that virus within 2-3 days.

Colds and influenza symptoms tend to rise during December through March. There are several reasons people struggle during these months. Traveling, less sunshine, holiday stress, and added drinking are some of the main culprits that contribute to a compromised immune system.

How Functional Medicine Boosts Immunity Against Influenza

Perhaps you think washing your hands several times a day and staying away from sick people will help you avoid influenza. However, it’s not just what you avoid but how you work to boost your immunity that matters. Here’s how to use natural medicine for influenza symptoms.

Natural Supplements

It’s important to supplement your diet with minerals and vitamins that will strengthen your immune defenses. It’s especially important to do this during the cold and flu season. You can often buy these supplement over-the-counter and eat food that contain them.

These important supplements include:

• Zinc – helps regulate your thymus gland to produce antibodies. You can also add shrimp, lean turkey, spinach, and chard to your diet.
• Vitamin C – this vitamin is important for adrenal production and antioxidant functions. As it destroys harmful cells in the body, it also boosts the immune cells.
• Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorous in your body. We get most of our vitamin D from the sunshine. However, since the sun shines less in the winter, people can experience a vitamin D deficiency.
• B-12 Vitamin – If you have decreased energy and increased inflammation, Vitamin B-12 can help. This vitamin is very important to heal your intestinal tract from inflammation. Inflammation plays a huge part in immune deficiency.

These supplements will help you boost your immunity and help you avoid the doctor’s office during the winter months.  

Boost Your Healthy Cells With Food

It’s no secret that eating healthy foods will do wonders for all of your body systems. Add these natural immune boosters to your diet:

• Garlic and mushrooms – natural antibacterial and antiviral combinations
• Dark leafy greens – spinach, chard, kale
• Elderberry and acai berry – antioxidants that fight inflammation
• Oysters – high in zinc and fight viruses
• Tea – white, green, and black teas fight free radicals

Don’t underestimate the power of nutrient-rich foods. Focus on foods that fight diseases to decrease your risk of viruses.

Avoid Immune Destroyers

It’s easy to indulge in comfort foods during the winter season. These comfort foods contain gluten and other inflammatory ingredients. Be careful to avoid inflammatory triggers in your diet. These triggers such as gluten, processed sugar, and alcohol compromise your immune system.

Processed sugars that you find in holiday treats and other goodies suppress the immune system over time. Think carefully before you reach for these foods. Instead, foods that will increase healthy cell production to fight viruses.

We Use Functional Medicine to Boost Immunity

If you need help to naturally boost your immunity system, call the team at Gut Authority for a consultation today. We’ll work closely with you and develop a functional medicine plan that fits your needs. We want to help you increase your immunity and help you stay healthy all year. We look forward to meeting you!