Have You Let Your Guard Down? Now Is The Time To Refocus On Immunity!

Raise your hand if you’re sick of hearing about Covid? And the possibility of a new virus? Marburg? Monkeypox? 

Yeah, me too.

But the reality is that this virus is here to stay. While we’re exhausted from dealing with it, now 3 years in, we must continue to focus on building and maintaining a robust immune system. Unfortunately, many people have become complacent. They’ve resumed normal travel and group activities, perhaps slacking on immune-strengthening supplements and probiotics, and have slipped into unhealthy eating habits again. All of which take a toll on our immune system, which makes us more susceptible to any virus, and puts us right back at square one. Vulnerable!

It’s time to refocus on immunity. 

The Demand For Immune Health Supplements Is Here To Stay

One positive thing to come out of the pandemic is the wake-up call that we are open to an attack from viruses. Not surprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic fueled the demand for products that support the immune system, with the industry growing 11.6% in 2020 to $18.22 billion. The global market for immune health supplements is projected to grow to $31.50 billion by 2028. According to research published in Natural Products Expo, 65% of US Consumers look for supplementary functional benefits from food and beverages. This has led manufacturers of these products to choose ingredients with clinically proven benefits.¹

What You Can Do To Refocus On Immunity Right Now

It’s never too late to prioritize your immune health. Even small daily steps can have a big impact over time and protect you from illness. Remember, the gut is the home for up to 80% of your immune system, so good digestive health and a balanced, diverse ecosystem are the foundation of a healthy immune response. 

Here are a few reminders of things to implement right now:

Eliminate sugar. The body’s immune system is weakened and becomes more acidic from sugar-feeding pathogenic yeast and bacteria.

Increase probiotic intake. Eat fermented foods and drink probiotic liquids to add beneficial bacteria to the gut to help build the immune system. 

Wash your hands. Use soap and warm water and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Proper, frequent hand washing can prevent about 20% of respiratory illnesses.² 

Get some fresh air and a minimum of 10 minutes of sunlight every day. Sunshine increases vitamin D synthesis, which is necessary for a healthy immune system. More is better, and best is early in the morning around 10 am. 

Sleep more. Quality sleep supports the initiation of an adaptive immune response. Prolonged sleep deprivation can have a detrimental effect on the immune system and make you more susceptible to illness.³

Remain alkaline. Begin your day with a glass of water flavored with freshly squeezed lemon or lime, Celtic sea salt, and BE Sweet. Then, for an immune-boosting blend of greens, algae, minerals, probiotics, herbs, and amino acids, make an alkalizing green smoothie with Vitality SuperGreen and/or Super Spirulina Plus.

Time Restricted Feeding. This is now a popular daily fasting schedule. Eating earlier in the day (before 11am at least) and limiting your food intake to 8-10 hours supports a stronger immune system, as well as a healthier digestive tract, and has the added benefit of slowing down aging. Snacking is out! When you do eat, eat nutrient-dense food. You might want just to eat two larger meals and then have a Probiotic Protein Shake for dinner.  

Add Products That Support The Immune System

Body Ecology’s Immune Power Shake features a blend of 8 medicinal mushrooms, which are backed by scientific research and a long history of medicinal uses. The powerful health benefits of mushrooms come from the mycelial (cell wall) in the form of a soluble fiber called beta glucan. 

Beta glucans from medicinal mushrooms have been shown to initiate and regulate the innate immune response to help eliminate infectious agents.⁴ They also reduce inflammation by acting as an antibody to foreign invaders. Finally, they support healthy digestion by activating the peristaltic reflex to help move food through the system to regulate bowel movements, maintain balanced gut bacteria, and help the intestines better absorb nutrients from food.

Beta glucans have both immune boosting and immune balancing effects on the body. This allows your immune system to have a strong innate (boosting) response to an illness, then helps it calm down (balancing) once the threat is over. This is especially important after having Covid, as the acute inflammation following the body’s immune response to the virus can cause an overactive response even after recovering.

Whether you’ve gotten sick recently, you’re watching people around you coming down with Covid again, or you just want to be proactive, now is a great time to refocus on your immunity. Take everyday simple steps to protect yourself, and add fermented foods, probiotics, and products that feature ingredients that support your immune system. 

References

1 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/immune-health-supplements-market-103319 

2 https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html

3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/ 

4 https://jhoonline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-8722-2-25