Boost your immunity this flu season

It’s no secret that it’s flu and virus season, but there are many well-kept supplement secrets you can add to your routine to boost your immune system and help shield yourself from catching any bugs. This is the time of year to ramp up your supplement routine to make sure your immune system is firing on all cylinders.

Vitamin C

This supplement is my #1 recommendation to add this time of year, and you’ll want to take more than you’d thing. The recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamin C is about 75-100 mg. When you are trying to boost your immunity, try taking 2,000+ mg spaced throughout your day. Your body will not absorb it at the higher amounts as well, but it’s still worth taking. Keep in mind it can upset your bowels so don’t take too much too fast or at once.

Echinacea

If you know you will be around people who are sick, or traveling, boosting your intake of echinacea is a great idea. It’s not a supplement I would take daily but at the first signs of symptoms of a cold or flu it’s a great idea. It works best for treating an upper respiratory infection.

Colloidal Silver

Silver is one of the most underrated and unknown supplements considering all of its capabilities. While you should not use it daily (typically not for more than two weeks straight), its short-term benefits are astounding. It can be used internally to help boost immunity and externally to treat wounds.

Elderberry

Elderberry is a great immunity booster. You can take it as a powder or a syrup and can even get it in tasty gummies for the kids. A great way to consume elderberry is to add the powder to a smoothie or make a hot tea with it. This is a good supplement to load up on for a week or so then take a daily dose while you are trying to prevent getting sick.

H₂O & Clean Eating

If you should come down with a cold or flu, it's essential to maintain healthy eating. While it may sound comforting at the time, loading up on sugary drinks or foods will only feed the virus and keep you feeling ill. Instead, load up on liquids like water and tea and limit the sugary juice or sports drinks. You can stock up on electrolytes via sea salt, bone broth, or coconut water.

Remember, one of the best ways to prevent getting sick is to have your immune system as strong as possible. Think of it as going to the gym for your cells. The stronger your immune system, the less of a chance of getting sick or the less the severity of the illness if you do get sick. And of course, don't forget to wash your hands often and stay home if you are sick to help prevent the germs from spreading!

Emily Countryman is a board-certified health coach and owner of Ideal Wellness located at 2639 172nd St. NE Suite 104 in Smokey Point/Marysville. She can be reached online at www.idealwellness.com or [email protected].