Sick and tired of being sick and tired? We are smack dab in the middle of cold and flu season. So what’s a mom to do to keep herself and her kiddos healthy? Try the following four nutrition tips to increase immunity in your home.
1. Improve Your Gut Health to Increase Immunity
Eat more prebiotics. Prebiotics are the substances we consume that feed the good probiotics (bacteria) in our gut. A major source of prebiotics is fiber. Increase this by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.
Eat more probiotics. Probiotics are the live bacteria we eat that hopefully will make their home in our gut. Getting probiotics from the food you eat is best for your gut. Eat yogurt, kefir, or other fermented foods every day.
2. Get More Antioxidants
Antioxidants fight unwanted invaders in your body. Great sources of antioxidants include spinach, kale, brussell sprouts, broccoli, onions, garlic, beets, cherries, berries, nuts, and seeds.
3. Get the Right Micro Nutrients
Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals. Some specific vitamins and minerals that help to fight viruses and bacteria include vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and zinc.
4. Other Helpful Supplements That Can Increase Immunity
Real food is best, but sometimes supplements can help. Elderberry syrup extract has been shown to reduce the duration of viruses. Quercetin may help improve immunity. NAC (N-acytyl cysteine) helps the body to increase antioxidants.
I hope these scientifically based nutrition tips improve your immunity and keep those viruses at bay this winter. Here’s to happy and healthier cold and flu season!
