Time to Prime Your Immune System for the Winter Season

It's that time of the year again, the holiday season is approaching with all the great cheer of the season. The flu bug is also in the air and so colds and fevers are all to ready and willing to join the festivities.

During these times it's a good idea to give your body as much immune support as possible. I always like to encourage people to top up on their veggies, especially the orange and green vegetables, for the extra kick of beta carotene, which is a super nutrient for better immune function.

If you like garlic and onions, cooked well they will be easier to digest and offer antiviral and antibacterial benefits.

Don't forget to eat more lean protein sources such as meat, poultry, eggs, and fish. Protein is needed for the production of immune cells, so optimal intake can go a long way in revving things up.

Chicken soup is another all time favorite of mine, as it is soothing, comforting, nourishing, and shown to fight off colds and flus. I always recommend to my clients to eat it often especially during colds. It's easy to digest, and also helps replenish electrolytes such as potassium and sodium.

Also, try to eat 2-3 servings of vitamin C rich foods. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and kiwis are some great options. Vitamin C is well known to help lessen the symptoms of the common cold.

Be sure to have plenty of echinacea in the medicine cabinet. Echinacea purpurea has been well studied to help reduce symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, and shorten the duration of colds. The key is to take it as soon as you start feeling sick, and continue taking until symptoms subside, and continue for another 10 days to be sure the virus has gone packing.

By making these nutritional choices the holiday season will be all the more festive, and you will enjoy it more with less of the sniffles.