How to live an immune healthy lifestyle

So I've talked about what the immune system is, what to eat and drink in order to strengthen it, things to be cautious of, and mentioned a great product I found. Today I decided to discuss what lifestyle choices will help you to avoid catching those nasty bugs that assist you in catching a cold. First and foremost, GET ENOUGH SLEEP. As a kid, my mom never wanted to let me have sleepovers because she said "you'll get sick if you don't get enough rest." I always thought that was just a threat and a way to shut me up about having friends over. Turns out my mom was right! (As always.) It is proven that your immune system is greatly compromised when your body is stressed and/or tired. Also, daily exercise can do a lot to strengthen your natural defenses. However, over exercise or stress can have a negative effect so don't go overboard! Finally, the best way to help your body fight disease is to keep disease away in the first place. Proper hand hygiene and disinfecting "germy" areas around your house are the best ways to avoid allowing bacteria into your body. Wash or sanitize your hands before every meal, after using the restroom, after touching pets, and at various times throughout the day. I've started carrying hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go, and by the way, I still haven't gotten sick :) 

Immune Boosting Drinks

Now that I know all about immune boosting foods, I decided to look into what type of great immune boosting drinks are out there. Any drink that contains the same ingredients we look for in foods (vitamin C, vitamin B, Zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, etc.) is likely to have good effects on the immune system. You can find normal fruit juices easily in grocery stores. Look for strawberry, guava, kiwi, strawberry, and orange juices. These juices will strengthen immune system functions but be careful of high sugar content and unhealthy additives. In many cases it may be healthier to just eat the fruit, rather than drink hundreds of empty calories in sugary fruit drinks. There are also a lot of great supplemental drinks on the market that are made specifically as immune boosters. Sun Dew makes a great immune booster that contains zinc, EpiCor, antioxidant fruits, and many other great things. I've been drinking it daily to see if I can avoid catching a flu this season. So far it seems to be working!