Natural Ways to Support Your Immune System

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The immune system works closely with the gut, with much of it associated with the digestive tract and gut microbiome. After 40, supporting your gut health and immune system becomes much more important. Along with the natural immune support remedies I am sharing in this article, your health habits play a major role in supporting both.

Why Gut Health Matters for Immunity

Approximately seventy to eighty percent of our immune system is associated with our gut. One of the best ways for natural immune support is to focus on improving gut health. A healthy gut contains a balanced microbiome, a diverse population of beneficial bacteria, and a healthy gut lining. When the gut becomes imbalanced, nutrient absorption may be affected, and inflammation can increase, impacting overall wellness.

Support Your Immune System

Healthy Habits That Support a Strong Immune System

Eat More Whole Foods. Whole foods include food in the same form as they were made in nature. Whole foods include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, chicken, turkey, fish, and unprocessed grains.

Eat Healthy Fats high in Omega-3s. Foods that offer healthy fats are fish (salmon, herring, trout), walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, avocados, and eggs.

Use Healthy Oils. Healthy oils include coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and hemp oil.

Eat Fermented Foods to promote gut health. Fermented foods include yogurt with cultures, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi.

Sleep. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Without sleep, our body can’t function at its best, and that includes our immune system.

Stress. It’s important to manage your stress. When your body is under stress, it weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to invaders.

Stay Hydrated. Warm tea or water with lemon is great to drink. I also recommend gargling with warm salt water.

Move your Body: Daily walks and exercise are beneficial for gut health, especially taking a walk after you eat, as it promotes gut motility. lymphatic movement, and healthy aging.

Some wellness tools, such as the Chi Machine and Far Infrared Products, are also traditionally used to support circulation and lymphatic movement.

Herbs Traditionally Used for Natural Immune Support

There are many supplements available that offer additional support for a healthy immune system. Below is a list of my favorite Nature’s Sunshine Products you can use to support a healthy immune system.

Echinacea / Golden Seal are both great products for supporting your immune system. They may help to activate and strengthen your immune system, especially during times of seasonal change.

Lobelia has a long history of use to support the respiratory system.

Olive Leaf Extract helps to boost your immune system with its high levels of antioxidants and works naturally with your body.

Silver Shield provides broad-spectrum immune support.

Combination Herbal Products for Immune Support

Lymphomax is an herbal combination containing Mullein, which has been used to support the respiratory system, especially when there is a cough, bronchitis, or pneumonia, according to RXList. If you can not find Lymphomax, you can use Mullein as a single herb.

My Immune Defense is a blend of mushrooms with naturally occurring Vitamin D to support your immune system. During the winter, I got pneumonia and took My Immune Defense daily and felt that it offered support.

VS-C is an herbal combination that is used for viral immune system support. 

Essential oils are also very beneficial for supporting a healthy immune system.

Nutrients For Natural Immune Support

Citrus Bioflavonoids (Vitamin C).  Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant and can strengthen your body’s natural defenses.

D – Vitamin D is amazing and has the ability to modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses in our body. Research published in the NIH suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased autoimmunity and susceptibility to infection. View the study here.

Zinc supports immune system function.

Thai-Go is a super antioxidant drink that supports immune and cardiovascular health.

What’s present in the gut helps educate your immune cells. Having a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle can support your immune system, whereas a poor diet can compromise it.

The Gut-Immune Connection and Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s primary defense mechanism and a response of the immune system. When your body comes in contact with pathogens or injury, your immune system gets woken up and lets your body know something is going on. Your blood flow increases and white blood cells are sent to heal your tissues. This relationship is how your body protects itself.

Acute inflammation is needed to sustain and protect ourselves; however, sometimes this inflammatory/immune response keeps on going and doesn’t turn itself off, and it becomes chronic. Many things can contribute to this chronic state. Poor gut health due to a diet high in processed foods creates an imbalance in the gut microbiome and contributes to chronic inflammation.

Supporting Immune Health Naturally After 40

We all want to age in a healthy way to sustain overall wellness. Consistency and small habits are essential in doing this. You can’t avoid every germ, but you can develop a healthier lifestyle that focuses on progress, not fear.

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Ready to Support Your Gut Health Naturally?

Your gut and immune system work together every day. Small habits like eating whole foods, managing stress, staying hydrated, improving sleep, and supporting your gut microbiome can make a meaningful difference over time.

Learn more with The Healthy Habits Challenge or explore more Gut Health articles throughout the site. To learn more about how gut health and immunity are connected, read our article on Gut Health and Immunity.