Herbs, Vitamins, and Exercise to Boost Your Immune System
The following is a list of the most recognized herbs, vitamins, and exercises that can be used to boost the immune system. To fully detail each item in the list would encompass a lengthy book. Instead, I encourage you to explore the links, visit a library, go to a health food store... basically do whatever it takes to fully learn about each in more detail.
This list should help with the physical. I provide another article that is an actual hypnosis session designed to help people boost their immune system and to enhance healing during cancer and chemotherapy treatments. And while hypnosis is helpful with the mental aspects of healing, it is always best to complement the mental with certain herbs, vitamins, and exercises to strengthen the physical body. This latter point is the purpose of this article.
Many websites and articles give their readers the following (mostly obvious) advice, so I figure I may as well, too. Here we go, things you probably already know:
Eat plenty of whole grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables, as well as lean meat and fresh fish (if you must eat meat). Use more herbs and spices in meals. Do whatever it takes to add fiber to your diet. Use olive oil versus vegetable oil. Avoid junk food, foods high in preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and commercial drinks (soda, etc.). Drink plenty of water. Do not smoke. Avoid stress (or, at least, the negative reactions to stressful situations). And exercise regularly.
That's not the list of absolutely everything you should, but it's a good start.
Which is exactly what the following list of herbs, vitamins, and nutrients is -- a good start to a healthy body. And now, in no particular order...
Echinacea and Goldenseal
While echinacea is arguably the king of herbal anti-virals, Goldenseal is considered by many to be the queen of herbal antibiotics. When taken together, echinacea and goldenseal strengthen immunity by combatting both viruses and bacteria.
Coenzyme-Q10 supports the immune system and increases energy. It is an oxygen enhancer to protect the cells and heart function.
Coenzyme-A
According to the Balch book “Prescription for NUTRITIONAL HEALING.”
Coenzyme –A reduces free radical damage to LDL cholesterol and decreases human platelet aggregation by supporting the immune systems detoxification of many dangerous substances. It provides an all –natural way to maintain the healthy, normal functioning of the heart and the whole cardiovascular system.
Astragalus
Studies have shown that astragalus helps increase T-cell counts and natural killer cells, increases the number of stem cells in bone marrow and lymph tissue, and encourages their development into active immune cells.
Garlic enhances immune function
Colostrum
Science has discovered that taking colostrum greatly increases the immune systems response, decreasing the length of healing time.
From Prevention's Healing with Vitamins, the following vitamins and minerals are recommended:
Nutrient -- Daily Amount
- Beta-carotene -- 8,300-10,000 international units
- Iron -- 18 mg
- Vitamin A -- 5,000 IU
- Vitamin B6 -- 2-50 mg
- Vitamin C -- 500 mg
- Vitamin D -- 400 IU
- Vitamin E -- 400 IU
- Zinc -- 15 mg
Exercise
And finally, the one form of exercise that best strengthens the immune system...
Rebounding
As quoted by NASA, exercise on a rebounder or mini trampoline is “the most efficient and effective exercise yet devised by man”. Rebounding specifically stimulates the flow of lymph fluid through the lymphatic system. The change in gravitational forces allows for greater blood flow and this increases the amount of waste and toxins flushed from the body, in addition to aiding the delivery of nutrients to the cells. Rebounding can increase lymph flow by up to 15%!
The human body needs to move. The lymph system bathes every cell, carrying nutrients to the cell and waste products away. Contrary to blood which is pumped by the heart, the lymph is totally dependent on physical exercise to move. The lymph fluid moves through channels called "vessels" that are filled with one way valves, so the lymph always moves in the same direction. The main lymph vessels run up the legs, up the arms and up the torso. This is why the vertical up and down movement of rebounding is so effective to pump the lymph.
The rebounding motion stimulates all internal organs, moves the cerebral-spinal fluid, and is beneficial for the intestines. Many immune cells such as T-lymphocytes and macrophages are self-propelled through amebic action. These cells contain molecules identical to those in muscle tissue. All cells in the body become stronger in response to the increased "G force" during rebounding, and this cellular exercise results in the self-propelled immune cells being up to 5 times more active. These immune cells are responsible for eating viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells, so it is good that they be active.
Lifting weights and working out on a treadmill strengthens only your muscle cells. But rebounding strengthens every single cell in your body — blood cells, brain cells, organ cells, skin cells, eye cells, fat cells — all the cells.
The simple action of bouncing up and down against gravity stimulates your lymphatic system, your circulatory system, your digestive system, your reproductive system, your brain, and your entire body without trauma to your musculoskeletal system. No other exercise can do this!
Bottom line: Jumping on a mini-trampoline is really, really, REALLY good for you.
Now, go be healthy!
