7 Simple Tips To Support Immune Health

Published on July 29, 2023

Woman washing hands over sink with produce in background

It may seem like keeping healthy is impossible, especially if you have children who continually bring home various colds and illnesses. Thankfully, there are ways you can support your immune system and your overall well-being.* 

We’ll discuss basic immune function and learn more about how you can naturally support a healthy immune system through good lifestyle choices. 

With the cold and flu season just around the corner, it’s a great time to reevaluate your remedies. Look at your health stack, lifestyle habits, and stress levels, and determine whether your actions are helpful or harmful to your immune system.

What Is the Immune Response?

The immune system is the system in your body that keeps you healthy and helps you fight sickness and infectious disease. These illnesses can come from numerous external stressors, like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.REF#2366

When your body sees something as an intruder, like bacteria or illness, it uses immune cells to create an immune response. By sending white blood cells to the area, your immune system attacks and eliminates the intruder.REF#2366 

At the same time, your body also creates antibodies. These antibodies remember the specific illness and are better able to fight it off immediately the next time you are exposed to it.REF#2366 This is a pretty efficient and effective system, which is why vaccines are designed to help in just the same way.

How Can You Support Immunity?

When our immune system is working properly, we may still get sick, but we are able to recover quickly. Luckily, we can give our immune system a boost by making a few lifestyle adjustments.

Wash Your Hands

We’ve known for decades that hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness and safeguard your immune system. Experts state that scrubbing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 to 30 seconds (or about the length of time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday twice) will get the job done.REF#2362

Manage Your Stress

The immune system works closely with your body’s stress response. In fact, when you are under heavy stress, your body may respond by suppressing the immune system, which could leave you susceptible to more frequent illnesses.REF#2367

You can protect the way your body reacts in stressful situations by taking care of your adrenal health. The adrenal glands are responsible for creating important hormones in the body and for regulating important electrolytes that keep your body functioning properly.REF#2368 

Take Your Herbs

There are plenty of natural immune boosters available, and it can be difficult to determine which ones are the most effective. Thankfully, you don’t have to look very far. At Gaia Herbs, we create immunity supplements that are pure, clean, and packed with herbs that have been researched and proven to support the immune system. 

There are multiple herbs that can help support the immune system, but we’ll highlight some of our favorites. We love Astragalus Supreme, a blend of herbs that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to support overall health, wellness, and a calm sense of well-being. 

Inside, you’ll find Astragalus Root, Schisandra Berry, and Ligustrum. These ingredients have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries for their immune-supporting benefits.REF#2369

For defense against the germs the kids bring home or the latest little sniffle that’s going around the office, try our Black Elderberry Syrup. You can take Black Elderberry for everyday immune support and for supporting the immune response at the first signs of illness.REF#2370

Lastly, we recommend Quick Defense. Loaded with natural sources of essential vitamins and minerals (like vitamin C and vitamin A), this formula contains powerhouse herbs known for supporting immunity.

Two types of Echinacea, Echinacea Angustifolia and Echinacea Purpurea, Black Elderberry, Ginger, and Andrographis round out the list of immune-supportive herbs that can help your body respond to illness and feel better once you start feeling ill.*

Get Moving

Getting regular exercise has benefits that extend well beyond increasing your immunity or helping you achieve a healthy weight. Exercise is also associated with a longer lifespan and is linked with a lower risk of heart disease.REF#2371

Everyone could use a healthy dose of blues-busting endorphins, and researchers have proven that moderate exercise can not only boost your mood but also support your immune system, too. This is in contrast to strenuous exercise or a sedentary lifestyle, both of which are associated with lower immunity. REF#2363 If you’re healthy and able to exercise, try to get 150 minutes of heart-thumping exercise per week. REF#2364

Get Some Sleep

Part of any healthy lifestyle is getting enough sleep. Most adults need somewhere between seven to nine hours of sleep a night, but you may need more or less depending on your activity level. It’s also important that you get quality sleep. That means sleep that is uninterrupted and allowed to cycle through all sleep cycles several times each night. 

If you feel your circadian rhythm is a little off, try learning how to rebalance it. Resetting the body’s clock can help you feel more rested and increase your ability to feel ready for your day.* If you have trouble sleeping, try an herbal supplement for the support you need.

Eat Fruits and Vegetables Daily

You can’t outrun your diet. If you aren’t eating properly, your body will feel it, and you can develop more than just an uncomfortable yearly conversation with your healthcare provider — you may also experience illnesses more frequently. 

When you eat a balanced diet, you’re giving your body the calories it needs to support immune system function. Loading up on fruits and vegetables can help keep your caloric intake low and increase your daily fiber, vitamin, and mineral intake. It’s generally a good idea to aim to load up at least half your plate with these antioxidant-rich foods.REF#2365

Look for colorful foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, and red cabbage. These foods are often high in antioxidants, which can support your immune system.

Additionally, you need macronutrients. Healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates round out a healthy diet and can help support your cells and bolster your immunity.REF#2365 Making sure your diet is diverse can benefit your body and help protect you against obesity.REF#2365

Eating a diet rich in immune-boosting probiotics can also help support your gut microbiome and bolster your resistance to infectious diseases. You can get probiotics from fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and kefir.

Drink Water

We know the importance of being hydrated in the summer months, but it’s also an important health factor year-round. Making sure you are fully hydrated can help support your immunity and even aid in digestion. When you get sick, drinking fluids is even more important. 

What is the best liquid for illness? Whichever one you can tolerate. If you are queasy, ginger may help settle your stomach. However, water is the most gentle on the stomach and is generally helpful in relieving dehydration.

Feel Better Soon

Supporting your immunity is a multifaceted routine that you can easily build into your daily life. Taking herbal supplements can help support your efforts and can even provide quick relief when you start to feel like you’re getting sick.*

There’s always something going around, so protect your body and bolster your immunity with smart lifestyle changes and the cleanest, purest herbs from Gaia Herbs.