Autumn Immunity Boosters

Autumn Immunity Boosters
How to support your immune system and reduce the severity of ills and chills when cooler weather hits.

Allergies be Gone

For some, allergens can make our lives miserable. Mould, dust and fallen pollen are all culprits of change of season sniffles and wheezes. The best way to tackle allergies is to see your doctor or local health practitioner and get tested. The clearer the triggers that affect you most are, the easier it will be to avoid them and address them more appropriately. There are also new ways of treating seasonal allergies. Acupuncture, for instance, has emerged as one solution for what’s ailing you this autumn. The World Health Organisation believes acupuncture can provide benefits to those suffering from acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis, cold, acute tonsillitis and acute bronchitis. 

Cool weather fitness

As the days get shorter and the nights longer, motivation to keep up with your fitness routine can significantly drop. Exercising earlier in the day is one way of battling your winter fatigue. Getting into an early workout routine will guarantee you stay on top of your health regimen and also free you up for more down time in the afternoons to relax and unwind. Another great way to keep moving in cooler weather is by utilising household chores like gardening, raking leaves, cleaning out wardrobes, and preliminary spring cleaning. Including these jobs into your everyday activities will keep you moving all winter long.

Try these simple yoga poses to start each day right and improve immunity and wellness. 

Immunity boosters

Now is the perfect time to boost your natural immunity and give your body the best chance at defending yourself against some of those pesky change-of-season bugs that will soon be floating around – not to mention, the dreaded cold and flu season. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches the five-element theory where foods are inextricably linked to season, flavour, colour, and organ. Foods that reflect the season’s colours are most beneficial to our bodies during that time of the year. Autumn is a season for white foods; think root vegetables, pears, radish, onions, garlic, white beans, winter melon, tofu, cauliflower and jicama – a type of turnip.

White foods are high in allicin, which reduces blood sugar and has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties purported to support the lungs and large intestine. Try also boosting your diet with foods that are naturally orange, red, yellow and deep greens – autumn-like colours. Think pumpkin, squash, oranges, carrots, lemons etc.

Supplement your health

Echinacea

This herb is known to support healthy immune function and plays a role in assisting the body with those dreaded winter ills and chills. Taking an Echinacea supplement can help support upper respiratory health and general wellbeing.

Astragalus

Traditionally used in Chinese medicine as a general tonic, this herb supports a healthy immune function, clear airways and general wellbeing.

Zinc, Vitamin C & Elderberry

Zinc supports healthy immune function, skin and general wellbeing. Elderberries are low in sugar, packed with antioxidants and provide acute immune system support that may reduce the severity of winter ills and chills. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that may support against the symptoms of winter ills and chills, and provides general health and wellbeing.  As with any supplement, it is important to always read the label and use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional. *Vira-Manager should not to be used in children under two years of age without medical advice.

Fight the cold naturally with these delicious foods: Best immune boosters

Keep your eye on the sun

Even though it feels like the sun has disappeared, never to be seen again, that doesn’t mean the damaging effects for your skin aren’t still there.Whether you’re heading to the park to walk the dog, catching up with friends for a coffee or planning on doing some gentle exercise over the weekend, remember to always slip on a t-shirt, slop on a hat and slip on some sunscreen to protect your skin from premature ageing and even skin cancer.

Sleep

Science backs up the old wives’ tale that lack of sleep makes you more prone to getting sick. Research from the University of Texas shows that our T-cells go down if we are sleep deprived and our inflammatory cytokines go up, which both lead to suppressed immune system function.  Good sleep habits involve having a restful sleeping environment, having a regular bedtime and getting enough sleep so you wake up feeling refreshed.

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