18 Ways To Boost Your Immune System Today

18 Ways To Boost Your Immune System Today

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Are you in need of a few tips on how to boost your immune system? Are you ready for flu season? Yep, it’s that time of year and it seems the germs are already in the air. We are what we eat, so let’s add some vegetables and fruits to our diet. I updated this post from a few years ago. We need to remind people to wash their hands, right?

Before I go any further in this post let me say I am not a doctor, nurse, or in the medical field. I am all for natural healing until I can see that a doctor is needed. Okay, now let’s talk about the way I take care of my family during the year.

Strengthen Your Immune System

1. Wash Your Hands

Sometimes I think I am truly a germ freak. Well, I am a germ freak. I often think about how dirty the grocery carts are and the stores give us those wipes to use. Please give me a power washer. Have you read that the carts are never cleaned?

They keep rolling around the store with kids in diapers, chicken meat dripping, oh goodness, how am I still alive?

Then the carts roll around outside in the parking lots. Okay, I would really like to know if these carts are ever cleaned. Think about flu season when you shake hands or touch doorknobs.

Can you imagine the bacteria we are placing our food on in those carts? So, my point is to wash your hands, wash your hands, and wash your hands again. I remember reading about the monkey bars at school having so much bacteria.

Bacteria on Door Knobs

What about the door knobs at work, church, or at school? Thank goodness some of the schools now have those anti-bacterial dispensers mounted on the walls. What about the bank deposit drive-in canisters? Oh, and the gas station pumps? It’s a good thing I am not a microbiologist, just saying.

2. Drink Lots of Water

One thing we need to do all year long is to keep hydrated. Water is the best choice. Soda dehydrates you. Drink about half your weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds drink 50 ounces of water minimum per day. Juice does not count toward your water intake.

Are you like me and have heard different theories about cold water versus room temperature water?

I prefer ice cubes in my water with some lemon packets added. Now, I can never have those lemons in restaurants again in my water. Did you read what is on those little gems? Well, let’s not go there.

3. Is It An Allergy or The Flu?

Do you suffer from allergies? Sometimes it’s really hard for me to figure out if my stuffy nose is allergies or something worse. Check out the bottle called Allergena Progena Meditrend – Allergena GTW (Zone 6) 2oz, that is what I use for my allergies. My sister told me about that product. You choose the “zone” you live in.

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It works great and I also use honey for most allergies. When in doubt go see the doctor. Flu season is here. Primary flu symptoms are fever, chills, and body aches that are sudden with extreme exhaustion. Flu.gov

4. Neti Pot

Did you see the show when Dr. Oz talked about a Neti Pot? It’s an incredible little plastic unit. I have not had an antibiotic for sinus infections for about 10 years since I invested a few dollars in one of these babies. You must be careful with the water you choose to use in your Neti Pot because it is going into your nose/body. When in doubt boil the water. The box suggests you use warm water with a little salt and use it as directed.

Place the Neti Pot in the dishwasher to keep it clean. NeilMed NasaFlo Unbreakable Neti Pot with 50 Premixed Packets

5. Replace Your Toothbrush

Did you know if you have a sinus infection you should replace your toothbrush? Just think of the bacteria in that brush. I stock up on toothbrushes when they get down to fifty cents or clearance prices. The dishwasher does not clean them well enough for me.

6. Replace Your Pillow

Pillows carry a lot of bacteria and allergy pollen. I realize we try to wash the pillowcases, but I would advise watching for pillow sales and replacing them at least once a year. Of course, if you have pillow covers as well as pillowcases you should be good. Please remember, during flu season a clean pillow and pillowcase is critical.

7. Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Try to eat fruits and vegetables over any processed food or fast food items. Eat a diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and eat a diet low in saturated fats. We need to eat healthy during the flu season. We are what we eat. Wow, that makes us really think about what we are eating, doesn’t it?

8. Sleep Well To Improve Your Immune System

One thing that is critical to stay well is to sleep well. I have read that you should not have a TV in your bedroom. Well, I have to have a TV to go to sleep, so I won’t suggest the “no TV” in the bedroom approach today. I do believe our bedroom should be our sanctuary. Sleep is critical during flu season.

9. Exercise-Great For Our Immune System

I am writing this paragraph to push myself to exercise. I think we should try and push ourselves to do 30 minutes a day, even if it is just three days a week. WooHoo! They say that walking is one of the best forms of exercise.  It doesn’t “pound” your body like running. Swimming is also a great way to get the old heart pumping.

10. Stay Away From Crowds

It goes without saying when in doubt stay out of crowds. Stock up on N95 or N100 masks. Better to be safe than sorry. One more step to use during flu season.

11. Avoid Stressful Situations In Life

Do not throw someone else’s “monkey” on your back like my husband always says. Take care of yourself, you are the most important person in the world. If you feel you have a lot of stress in your life, take a deep breath and start thinking about the good things in your life rather than dwelling on the negative.

If you can, delegate or get assistance for projects. Friends are good sounding boards too. Find someone to share experiences with or just to talk to.

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12. Don’t smoke

If you do smoke, quit. I know it’s easier said than done! Just going “cold turkey” works for some. Others need the systems that gradually wean you off the nicotine. Do what is best for you, but do it.

13. Check your Weight

Maintain a healthy weight (this one is for me, man is it hard for me to lose weight). You can only have so many Mondays to start a diet.

14.  Check Your Blood Pressure

Try to keep in range based on your age and other health factors.

15. Annual Screenings

Get annual screenings appropriate for your age and risk factors.

16. Alcohol Consumption

If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation.

17. This Is One That I follow:

“Do what is right for you and you will always be happy.” This is a statement that Jane Clayson Johnson gave at my youngest daughter’s college graduation, May 1st, 2004. She graduated from Utah State University in Logan, Utah.

18. Be Happy And Mingle With Happy People

We are responsible for our own happiness. Smile and the world will smile back. I promise. I feel sorry for people who constantly dwell on “if only this would have happened” or “if only this hadn’t happened.” Start thinking about what you do have, please look around you and be thankful for what you do have today. Life is good.

My Final Thoughts:

I will tell you what I use whenever I get around someone who is sick because I remember a time when I didn’t have health insurance, and it was scary. (Update, I now qualify for Medicare). It’s taken me almost 8 years to learn more about natural healing approaches that, in my mind, are safer to put in and on my body. My family and I have had insurance for all the years we were working. It sure provides peace of mind.

When I was growing up I don’t remember ever going to the doctor more than maybe every 4 or 5 years. My parents are deceased so I can’t ask them if we had health insurance growing up. I doubt it. We used purple stuff with a swab for strep throat. Hot packs for earaches. The red-staining Merthiolate for cuts and infections. That’s how it was growing up.

I have learned this in the last six years, if you pay cash you save money at the doctor’s office. They don’t have to bill anyone and they get their money when services are rendered. I have learned how to buy three months of prescriptions with cash/debit cards for 10% of what they would have cost if I had used my health insurance to buy the med. Check it out and see how it applies to your prescriptions. I also found that some pharmacies are cheaper than others. Call around and see who will give you the best deal, particularly if you pay cash.

Pay Cash at Pharmacies

Yes, you heard that right, I learned which pharmacies had the lowest prices on what prescriptions. I did not have to go to my insurance company’s designated pharmacy. You will then have the freedom to choose where you want to buy the exact same prescriptions (all are generic).

Have you heard that Walmart is not the cheapest place? Please scope out more pharmacies. You might be able to pay less money than your copay if you pay cash instead of using your insurance.

Ask for Subsidizing

Don’t be shy about asking pharmaceutical companies to subsidize your expensive medicines. I have a daughter who has one prescription that is over $4,000.00 a month and she contacted the company to see if they could help with her copayment, which is higher than a car payment. They agreed.

Please remember to do what is right for your family. We are all in charge of our own health and welfare. These are my ideas to keep flu season under control in my house. Let’s stay healthy and be prepared for the unexpected. Please do your own research to do things to improve your immune system, you will be glad you did. I promise. Blessings, Linda

First aid kit by Linda

Copyright pictures:

Immune system: AdobeStock_125720393 by Boygostockphotos

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16 Comments

  1. I would like to mention how sunshine helps prevent flus. Sunshine gives us Vitamin D3 for our bodies which we need and fresh air. Being couped up in the house all winter is not good. If you can tolerate it, get at least 15 mins. in the morning or 15 mins. in the evening. Also walking helps. I can’t tell you the last time I had the flu.

  2. Linda, Thanks so much for the info!! I sure appreciate all that you do to help me. I just wanted to tell you what I learned quite along time ago, when the “Blue Man” was in the news from using so much silver. The silver that will turn you blue is colloidal. The silver that won’t turn you blue is ionized. I learned about it, because I’m allergic to antibiotics and most everything else. Sending hugs to you, LaRene

    1. Larene, oh my gosh that makes sense to me now!!!! These say ionized. Now I get it! See this is why I love readers like you! We can learn so much from each other! Hugs to you!!! Linda

  3. Elderberry syrup such as Sambucol has been shown to be effective against flu viruses. This is just one of the studies showing its efficacy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15080016

    Basically elderberries stop viral replication, thereby shortening the duration of the flu. Elderberries have also been tested for effectiveness against colds. This information needs to reach the public. It certainly is not advertised in mainstream media.

  4. Linda, Where do you find ionized silver??? I haven’t been able to find it for a long time. All the bottles are colloidal when you read the product info labels. LaRene

  5. I would be remiss if I did not add fresh garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey. These “kitchen medicine” herbs have properties that antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal etc. Peeled and chopped and put into a quart jar and covered with raw apple cider vinegar to extract these properties for 4 weeks, creates a “do-it-yourself” cold and flu remedy. After extracting for 4 weeks, strain and add raw honey to taste. This can be used in salad dressings, or it can be taken by the tablespoon. You can see one of America’s top herbalists in actions at YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU8U0bDmXks.

  6. When I feel like I’m getting the flu I take one Lysine tablet 1000 mil and one aspirin every hour for 3 hours. and the first hour I drink a cup of coffee. The lysine kills viruses, the coffee amps up the metabilism and I forget what the aspirin does. (sorry) you can find more info at earthclinic.com. I have felt better within 3 hours when I do this. Also if I get a cold I heat tomato soup add cayenne pepper, tabasco and 2 raw cloves of garlic diced small. It clears my nose and tastes good. These may sound extreme but they shorten the duration of any cold or flu.

    1. Hi Kathy, I love hearing these home remedies. I have never heard of Lysine. I want to check that one out. I am adding your tomato soup recipe to my post right now. Blessings.Linda

  7. Hi Linda, There are 2 things I do.

    1. When I feel the least hint of a cold or flu coming on I take a lot of vitamin C. I take 2,000 mg of vitamin C every half hour for 4 batches. (8,000 mg total) That will either prevent the cold or flu entirely, or make it run its course much less severely and more quickly.
    2. I make hand wipes that I ALWAYS carry in my car, plus a half dozen that I carry in my purse. And I especially like having them when I travel. I prefer them to hand sanitizer.

    https://craftyjournal.com/diy-alcohol-hand-wipes/

    Thanks for all your ideas!

  8. I can’t agree about not eating saturated fat like butter or coconut oil. These are good for you. What are not good are trans fats like vegetable oils or margarine. Cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and sunflower oils are not treated with solvents or heat. I take 8000mg of vitamin C each and every day. Haven’t had a cold for 30 years. I also stay away from all GMO food which depresses your system.

    1. Hi Emily, I love hearing you haven’t had a cold in 30 years. I never get colds either. I see so many sick people at the stores (might be allergies). I stay away from the GMO food as well. Linda

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