Immune health is very much on everyone’s mind, no matter what time of year. But even though we all want to stay well, a quick refresher of easy ways to support the immune system can never go out of style.
1. Wash up! All of the advice we were given as kids is very helpful: wash your hands. As for how long to wash your hands, at least 20 seconds seems to be the standard answer. Make sure to get between your fingers, the backs of your hands, and under your nails. If silently counting off twenty seconds seems a bit cumbersome, consider singing the “Happy Birthday” song to yourself (or out loud, if you’d like—why not?) to give you enough time to lather and rinse before drying your hands thoroughly. Sure, it seems basic, but it’s the kind of thing that can make a big difference. 
2. Eat fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and lean proteins: Diet makes a difference! It provides the vitamins, minerals, plant compounds, and proteins that fuel your body and mind to help you stay healthy. Extra fiber from fruits and vegetables helps keep your digestive system—intricately tied to your immune function working smoothly. Too often, we don’t normally associate the two together, but they need to be at their best in order for us to stay well. One way of supporting a healthy digestive system and immune function is by ensuring a regular intake of probiotics.* Our own FloraSure® Probiotic, delivering the FloraSure probiotic blend of live, active cultures, fits the bill nicely. While it can be tempting to discount a good diet as nothing more than “calories in, calories out” that really isn’t the case. Making a habit of eating whole foods that support your vitality—including your immune system—is one of the best defenses available.
3. Avoid refined flour, sugars, and processed foods: Not only do these foods add to your waistline, they can also set your immune system on red alert because of the actions of the ingredients in your body. Stick with the healthy option—you’ll feel better and stronger as a result.
4. Get restful sleep: Restorative sleep is often the rarest of commodities. Screen time, social obligations, and family responsibilities can whittle away the hours we need to fully recuperate for the day ahead. Not surprisingly, restful sleep is also key for a well-functioning and responsive immune system. Consider these tips for a best night’s rest:
- Limit your screen time for at least one hour before bedtime
- Give yourself about three hours between dinner and going to bed
- Avoid caffeine later in the day. Caffeine can remain in your system for a good 8 hours or so—forgoing that extra cup in the afternoon may allow your mind to dive deeply into restful sleep
5. Get outdoors for fresh air and exercise: Getting outside gives you a change in perspective, gets you away from recirculated air in workplace, school, or home, rejuvenates the oxygen levels in your blood, and, if you live in a warm, sunny climate, can help your body synthesize vitamin D—a major immune-supporting nutrient. However, if you live in a northern climate, work indoors most of the year, or have darker skin, you may need a supplemental source of vitamin D3 to maintain optimal levels of the vitamin.* Vitamin D3 Chewable delivers 5,000 IU of this essential nutrient in every tablet.
6. Watch your alcohol intake: Having a drink to wind down after a long day may seem, on the surface, to help you relax and recharge, but that isn’t always the case. In fact, alcohol interferes with proper sleep cycles, can affect your blood sugar, lead to weight gain, and reduce your immune system’s effectiveness.
7. Supplement Wisely: Whether you’re a fan of andrographis, a long-trusted Ayurvedic herb for immune support, or you have great zeal for zinc as a reliable essential mineral, we have you covered with an entire immune support category just waiting for you to explore.*