The Immunity Diet

Have you been getting sick recently? It might be because you touched your face. It might be because you take public transportation, or you share keyboards, or you're locker rooms a lot, or you work with clients a lot. There are billions of bacteria in your body and you can't avoid it. Even wearing white gloves like Michael Jackson won't protect you completely.

One of my colleagues the other day asked me to get him some echinacea oil because he said it helped prevent and treat his colds during the winter. The reviews on echinacea is mixed, but I started to investigate other ways to boost your immunity.

Cortisol is a hormone that's released when we experience large amounts of stress. Cortisol is no good. With all things equal it can add body fat, without changing your diet or exercise. It's that powerful. How do you combat it? Get your finances straight. Find a job you like. Hang out with people who support you. In fact, the new study of psychoneuroimmunology shows that loving relationships can boost immunity and lower cortisol. So if you're a loner, go to happy hour once in awhile. Stress also exhausts your kidneys, where our adrenal glands are. Adrenal glands help us adapt to change and if they're not working properly, then you'll be more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.

Have plenty of joy in your life. Read scripture. Turn off the news. Spend time with friends and family. Don't miss opportunities to have good times with people. If that means going to a restaurant, then go.

Vitamin C (cleverly called emergency-C at Trader Joe's). Stress depletes vitamin C, which helps your immune system fight off pathogens. If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, you probably get enough. 1000 mg is enough. Your multivitamin should provide plenty. Don't fall for megadoses. They dehydrate you and cause diarrhea.

Like Vitamin C, Zinc helps your lymphocytes fight infection. Zinc has the added benefit of cutting the length of colds. Aim for 15 mg per day, and up to 50 mg every when you're sick. Good sources include seafood and meat, but if you're vegetarian, take a supplement.

Vitamin A, E, D- You should always supplement with vitamin D. Aim for 4000 mg per day. You can usually get enough vitamin A through your MV and plenty of fruits and vegetables. You can supplement while you're sick with 20,000 IUs. Vitamin E is usually found in nuts, but you can also supplement.

Coconut oil- It seems researchers are finding more and more reasons to eat coconut oil. I still don't eat it, as I usually don't cook much. But coconut has lauric acid, a type of saturated fat, which is antimicrobial.

Other supplements- AHCC is a mushroom plenty that aids the immune system. Olive leaf extract boosts the immune system and helps fight infections. Elderberry, like zinc, reduces the length of the flu.

Looking forward to spring,

Kevin