9 things you can do to boost your immune system naturally
By leading a healthy lifestyle, you minimize the health problems of your body. Yet, environmental issues and aging changes of the organism can influence the functioning of the immune system, which is the main natural defense of our body against illnesses.
There are many ways to boost the immune system and here is our selection of effective methods to strengthen your body’s immune response.
Be aware that some of the products are not recommended to use all the time while some can be harmful to a particular person. Each ingredient may have side effects so before you try any immunostimulating methods in our article it is recommended to consult with your therapist.
1. Honey and garlic
Honey is well-known for its numerous health benefits. It boosts immunity, energizes the body, heals wounds and fights infections. It also has an antioxidant effect, which prevents cancer. Honey helps lower blood pressure and it can work as a cough suppressant.
Garlic is a powerful means to prevent and combat various illnesses. Like honey, it has antioxidant properties and can help control blood pressure.
Recipe: To get the most out of these two powerful components, crush several cloves of garlic and add a cup of honey. Put the mixture into the glass jar and place it into the fridge for several days. Take a teaspoon of this powerful mixture once a day.
2. Ginger and turmeric tea
Turmeric is a popular spice, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can reduce the risk of cancer and improve liver function.
Ginger helps control cholesterol and blood levels. It improves digestion and appears to be a powerful aid for fighting off colds, nausea and indigestion.
Recipe: To make a spicy tea for boosting your immune system, take 3 cups of hot water and put 1cm of grated turmeric root in. Add 1 cm of grated ginger, leave for about 10 minutes and add honey or lemon to your taste. Plants need to be peeled before you grate them.
3. Warm water with lemon
Lemon is a good source of vitamin C, which protects the body from various immune deficiencies. It has powerful antibacterial properties, improves skin quality and helps digestion.
Recipe: Squeeze juice from half a lemon and dilute it with warm water. Drink with a straw to avoid damage to your teeth. It is recommended to rinse your mouth after drinking lemon water. Avoid brushing teeth for an hour.
4. Lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper
As mentioned above, lemon and ginger are very effective anti-viral and anti-bacterial ingredients.
Cayenne pepper is high in antioxidants and beta-carotene. The spice raises body temperature and activates the immune system.
Recipe: Mix 2 cm of peeled and grated ginger with the juice of half a lemon. Add a bit of cayenne pepper powder and take one teaspoon of the mixture a day.
5. Honey, ginger, licorice and echinacea syrup
Such powerful immune boosters like honey and ginger can be combined with echinacea and licorice for even better effect.
Echinacea is widely used for treating colds and fighting infections. It benefits general well-being and can help combat cancer.
Licorice root has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce gastrointestinal problems.
Recipe: Peel and grate the roots of licorice and echinacea to make half a cup of each. Put them into the boiling water and add 4 cm of ginger. Simmer for about 40 minutes. Honey should be added after the syrup cooled down.
6. Mushroom extract
The mushroom extract has bioactive compounds that help body fight infections and heal from a variety of illnesses. Some types of fungi are considered to be medicinal for thousands of years. Mostly, the mushrooms that have immunostimulating properties are reishi, shiitake, maitake, cordyceps, turkey tail, lion’s mane and chaga. A combination of them creates a powerful health-optimizing effect on the whole body. The extract may reduce cholesterol levels and improve respiratory function. It also has a neuroregenerative effect and antidiabetic qualities.
Recipe: 1 teaspoon of mushroom extract can be added to your favorite beverage or dish every day.
7. Green smoothie
If you love smoothies, you probably already know how good they can be for the body.
Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. This plant is considered to be a superfood, which provides an endless range of health benefits.
Oranges are well known for being rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant.
Celery is a green vegetable, which is an excellent source of beneficial enzymes. It is rich in vitamins and minerals that stimulate the immune system.
Ginger is also rich in antioxidants and it effectively strengthens the immune response of the body to bacteria and viruses.
Recipe: Put a bunch of spinach, a stalk of celery and one orange into the blender. Peel and grate a 1cm piece of ginger. Add to other ingredients, blend and drink. If you find your smoothie too thick for your liking, add some water before blending.
8. Echinacea tincture
Echinacea is known for strengthening the resistance of the body to illnesses. In combination with vodka, it may have a positive effect on the immune system.
Recipe: Fill a glass jar with vodka leaving some space and put the herb there. Seal tightly and put it away for about 5 weeks. Keep it at room temperature and shake the jar from time to time. After that, get the herbs out and pour the tincture into the amber bottle. You can take half a teaspoon 3 times a day whenever you feel that you start feeling flu or cold symptoms.
9. Andrographis
This bitter-tasting herb is rich in components, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. It was widely used in China and India for centuries to fight against microbes, parasites and viruses. Nowadays, it is available in tincture and capsule form at almost any health food stores. Andrographis has a wide range of benefits but mostly it is valued for its immune system enhancing properties.
