It’s no secret that flu season has come early this year and by the looks of it, it’s not ending anytime soon. With friends, family and co-workers all coming down with the germy illness, there is no better time to focus on ways to boost your immune system.

While many will miss school and work- you don’t have to. There are aids that can help prevent a person from becoming a victim of the flu and others illnesses. Here are a few things to know about nudging those flu-causing germs and enhancing the immune system.

Food for Thought

Most of us don’t think twice before we eat that cupcake or cheeseburger but we should be. The foods we eat have a direct impact on how our body functions. While no one food can ward off illnesses like the flu, an overall healthy diet might. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in soluble prebiotic fibers will prodigiously grow good bacteria that in turn stimulates the powerful immune cells in the colon wall the strengthen. Combine with plenty of fruits and vegetables to help support a healthy immune system.

Remember to Rest

Long work days and a hectic personal life can often keep a person going and going. But unlike the Energizer Bunny®, the human body needs its rest. Don’t tax your body when trying to fight the flu or other illnesses. Get some shut-eye as a way to rejuvenate the immune system and keep a healthy body.

A few more tips:

  • Getting the flu shot is the number one way to help prevent against the virus not just in older adults and children but in teens and middle aged adults. By producing antibodies, your body will protect itself from the virus.
  • Avoid big crowds and make sure to wash your hands regularly.
  • Eat plenty of food rich in prebiotic and probiotic naturally occurring substances like garlic, soy, oats, fermented yogurt and milk or take a dietary supplement like Prebiotin.  Doing so helps support one of the biggest immune organs, the digestive tract and stimulate the immune cells to fight against illnesses.

Nothing can sideline your everyday life like a bad cold or the flu. Protect the immune system starting from the inside out. Taking care of your body properly through proper diet, exercise and rest can prevent illnesses, help enhance the immune system and promote general health and wellness.

 

Dr. Frank W. Jackson is a retired gastroenterologist with more than 40 years of research on nutrition and colon health. Today, he is the founder of Jackson GI Medical as well as Prebiotin, a premier prebiotic fiber supplement distribution in the Northeast Valley and available at Cooper’s Nutrition, The Vitamin Shoppes and Sprouts Valleywide. For more information, please visit www.jacksongi.com or www.jacksongi.com.