Ace-Immunity

Holistic Health: Expert advice on immunity boosting

Our trio of health experts show youhow to keep fighting fit this winter

Our trio of health experts show you how to keep fighting fit this winter

Lyndsey

We know in layman’s terms that the immune system works by reacting to eliminate foreign or unrecognised factors which pose a threat to bodily functions, such as viruses. Your body needs the exposure to learn the appropriate response or antidote to prepare it in the future. We also need to support our immune system by stimulating it with natural processes which the body can recognise as friendly and helpful e.g. herbs such as echinacea and homeopathic remedies, alongside good nutrition and exercise and hands on therapies.

One thing that is not very popular with my homeopathic clients is the notion to go with the flow of the body. So most people for example, who feel a cold coming on,immediately increase their supplement regime in the vain hope it will curtail the inevitable, but the immune system has to learn the lesson of the disease in order to recover from it fully and recognise it next time round and disable it.

In homeopathic terms it actually diverts the energy or the attention of the body from the main attack on the body. By taking such actions it also interrupts the process of the illness and deprives the body of the opportunity to lay down a useful marker in the immune system. When your body starts going down with a cold it does not have the resources or energy to break down and utilise supplements. There are homeopathic remedies that will help in the early stages of such illnesses as colds and fevers such as ferrum phos and aconite which will not stop the progress of the illness but will ease its passage. Of course there are many diseasest hat can be helped by visiting your doctor.However, we have become very quick to go to the GP’s at the slightest sniffle and this is not helpful to our own natural mechanisms which need the exercise just like all other bodily systems.

If you do get ill drink filtered water at body temperature. Stay away from raw fish which is a popular carrier parasites. Once your gut is repaired you can reintroduce them. Remember that sugars stimulate the immune system as it interprets them as foreign. Try to eat foodstuffs that are easy to break down like warming soups and stews.

Carole

This time of year sorts the men from the boys (I say this with affection!) and the difference between them is defined by the state of their immune system.

Our immune system is a collection of cells, fluids and proteins that work to protect the body from potentially harmful, infectious micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses,and fungi. Your immune system is responsible for the majority of everyday malaise and adverse health issues. The foundation to good health begins in your gut, where 70 per cent of your immune system resides

An overload of stimulants such as smoking, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, fast foods,mucus and fungus forming foods,medication, environmental toxins and dehydration leads to an impaired gut,otherwise known as leaky gut syndrome.Other lifestyle influences are lack of sleep,too little or too much exercise and overstimulating our body with an assault of supplements once in the throes of an immune breakdown led illness.

Nigma

Research has shown that there is a link between exercise and the immune system. Cells circulate through the body more efficiently and are therefore better at killing bacteria and viruses. Although this boost only lasts a few hours post exercise, consistent exercise can lead to substantial benefits in immune system health and recovery over thel ong-term. Moderate exercise i.e. walking for 30 minutes every day or visiting a gym a few times a week, with plenty of rest and recovery time, is ideal. However, too much exercise can actually cause your immune system to weaken. has found that during intense physical exertion, the body produces cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones which raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels and suppress the immune system. If you are ill, your immune system is already taxed by fighting your infection so try to aim for just a bit of light or moderate exercise such as a 30 minute walk,with some nice early nights may help you feel a bit better and actually boost your immune system.