Self Care
5 Immune Supporters for Cold and Flu Season
Apr
Have you ever noticed that when you’ve got a cold or flu your skin’s more likely to break out or flare up?
One of the reasons is that a cold or a virus is a stressor on the body.
…and stressors lead to inflammation that can affect both our skin and our gut!
Our skin (along with our gut) is the barrier between us and the outside world.
Which means our skin is packed with immune cells that help to ward off invasion and infection.
This also means that our skin can be sensitive to ‘stress’ and inflammation from the inside, especially for those of us who have a history of inflammatory skin issues like eczema, rosacea and acne.
As well as that, some of the hormones our body releases when we’re sick or stressed are also those that stimulate more oil production in the skin. Which can then lead to a breakout.
So what can we do to help support our immune system against colds and flu’s this winter and in the process prevent a skin breakout or flare up?
Here are 5 things you can do to support your immune system…
#1 GENTLE WARMING SOUPS + BROTHS
Between 60-80% of our immune system is in our gut, so gut health is even more important in the winter time!
Bone Broth contains amino acids like glycine and proline that support a healthy gut lining and help repair any damage.
…and it’s super easy to add bone broth and collagen to soups, stews, mashed veggies and gravies.
Plus, gentle warming foods like stews, soups, bone broths that are nutrient dense are great for helping to warm up your insides.
…if you don’t have the time or the inclination to make your own bone broth, we have the Nutra Organics Bone Broths and Tone Made Bone Broth in the Ecology online store.
#2 COLOURFUL VEGGIES, HERBS + SPICES
Colourful veggies, herbs and spices are packed with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants that will help support and strengthen your immune system (and they’re so easy to add to a broth based soup or stew!)
Go for leafy greens, carrots, garlic, ginger, chilli, turmeric.
Mushrooms are the ‘newest’ functional food shown to help with reducing inflammation and supporting immunity. Particularly, Chaga, Reishi and Cordyceps
…and if you’re looking to add an easy immune boost or for a warming drink on the side, check out our Turmeric blends, Matcha Maiden green tea and Broccoli Spouts
#3 FERMENTED FOODS + PROBIOTICS
Fermented foods and probiotics are super helpful for supporting good gut health and repair, so they also make for good immune boosters.
Our resident naturopath Bridgit makes her own winter warming immune tonic, check the comments on this facebook post for what she’s got in there and some tips to put together your own tonic 🙂
…you can also look out for Fire Tonic in our Skin Super Foods
#4 VITAMIN C RICH FOODS
Go for fresh fruits and veggies like leafy greens, broccoli, capsicum, berries, citrus fruits and kiwi fruit.
…and if you’re looking for a superfood boost, Camu Camu has the highest levels of natural Vitamin C of any food on the planet, you can find it in our Vitamin C Powders and our Nutra Organics Collagen Beauty in our Skin Super Foods
#5 SLEEP + REST
I think no healthy habit list is complete without sleep 😉
Our bodies go into repair mode when we sleep and a lack of sleep can definitely impact our immune defences.
…if you need some help winding down before bed, check out our blue light blocking glasses
