Immunity Boosting for Fall By Laura Posada

We all know what it’s like to wake up on a November morning with that dreaded tickle in our throat, and that horrid, achy feeling that you know is just the beginning of what will turn into an awful cold.

It’s even worse when your kids are the ones who wake up with that nasty feeling. But there are lots of little things you can do to arm your whole family against these pesky seasonal maladies, and simultaneously boost everyone’s collective immunity.

* Research shows that eating eight servings of vegetables is one sure-fire way to increase immunity.

So think about putting carrot and celery sticks in your kids’ snack and lunch bags; and instead of making one veggie serving for dinner, come up with comprehensive vegetarian menus that feature three or four different vegetables in interesting ways. Don’t afraid to be abundant in your use of vegetables, and dare to think of vegetables as “entrees.”

* Another way to boost immunity is by cooking with lots of garlic, which contains allicin, the active ingredient known for fighting bacteria and infection. Never mind that garlic makes everything taste better anyway!

* Drinking at least eight glasses of water per day is another way to keep the immune system strong, as it promotes a routine flushing of toxins.
* Research also shows that not enough sleep can be detrimental to the immune system, so you should set certain bed time hours and keep to them, in an effort to keep everyone’s sleep cycle as balanced as possible. Drinking warm milk and counting sheep definitely come in handy if you have a little night owl on your hands.
* Consider implementing bi-weekly oatmeal mornings at home, as these grains contain beta-glucan, a fiber with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

* Fresh OJ in the morning is another Vitamin C no-brainer, as is fresh pomegranate juice, for the more exotic among you.
* Exercise can also help strengthen your immune system by improving blood flow, flushing away toxins from muscles and organs, and helping to keep the kidneys and endocrine system working well. Staying active also helps with germ elimination and to circulate antibodies.