During the busy holiday season it is common for your immune system to take a hit. With the eventful days, and abundance of holiday comfort food, the nutrients and antioxidants your body needs to maintain a high functioning immune system can be missed. 

Is it possible to boost your immune system? Yes it is!

There are a number of ways we can help our body naturally protect itself against illness and disease so you can start off 2018 happy and healthy. Here's a list of the withinUs Team's Top 5 Ways To Boost Your Immune System.  

5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM 

1. DRINK MATCHA (INSTEAD OF COFFEE)  

Matcha, Matcha, Matcha! You have heard a lot about it and it's not just hype.  No only is it a great coffee alternative, it provides your body with the alertness and energy that you crave from coffee, without the spikes and jitters.

The caffeine in coffee impacts your adrenal glands as it stimulates neurone activity in the brain. Adrenaline and cortisol are pumped out and put your body in a “fight or flight” mode, making you exhausted and causing a constant red-alert state.

Matcha contains a unique, potent class of antioxidant called catechins. Catechins, which are rare in other foods, help counteract free radicals in the body, which helps fight infection and disease.  

A very important note is that not all matcha is created equal. The origin of matcha is very important, along with it’s strict regulations and certifications. Depending on the origin, matcha can be contaminated with lead and other toxins which render its antioxidant properties ineffective and more harmful in the long run.

Although matcha does contain caffeine (less than 1/3 as much as a cup of coffee), unlike coffee, it is not acidic (it is alkaline). High acidity levels in coffee impede on the small intestine making it harder to absorb nutrients, which are essential for a healthy and functioning immune system.

A cup of TruOrganic™ Matcha a day will help keep illness away!

2. LOWER YOUR SUGAR CONSUMPTION

Sugar might taste good, but research shows that it is harmful for your body in many ways. Eating (or drinking) too much refined sugar curbs the immune system cells (white blood cells) that attack bacteria. This lowers your immune system functionality, making your body more susceptible to infection and sickness.

3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

There is a complex relationship between sleep and the immune system, and it is no surprise that one affects the other. Lack of sleep can negatively impact the immune system, making your body more susceptible to illness. Many illness fighting substances are released in the body when we are asleep - our body needs these proteins, hormones and chemicals to fight off infection. Sleep deprivation or lack of sleep therefore decreases the availability of these illness fighting substances, making the body more vulnerable to illness.

4. PROBIOTICS 

Probiotics are live (good) bacteria and yeast that are beneficial for your health, especially the digestive system. Taking probiotics helps increase gut health by strengthening the intestinal lining, making it more difficult for harmful bacteria to escape into the bloodstream, making you sick.  

You can get probiotics in supplement form. Be sure that the supplement you choose contains Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which is the probiotic required for adults. Incorporating probiotics into your regular routine helps build a solid foundation for healthy and strong gut flora. To find a probiotic that best suits your needs it is recommended to seek advice from a Naturopath. 

Probiotics are also present in a variety of cultured foods. Some foods that are high in probiotics are:

• Live cultured yogurt
• Fermented foods - such as - tempeh, natto, sauerkraut, miso, kefir and kimchi
• Kombucha
• Pickled vegetables

5. DRINK YOUR MARINE COLLAGEN

Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning that your body needs it, but cannot produce it on its own. It is an immune system booster as it helps build antibodies and has important antiviral properties. withinUs TruMarine™ Collagen contains this important amino acid, and as a result, by taking 5g of collagen daily you are boosting your immune system!

withinUs TruMarine™ Collagen’s high bioavailability is clinically proven, our marine collagen peptides circulate through the body's bloodstream instead of going through the digestive tract. withinUs TruMarine collagen peptides have a greater absorption rate than other collagen sources - such as bovine, porcine, chicken collagen, bone broth and even fish skin collagen. Since withinUs TruMarine is broken down to a low molecular level, this also ensures that the amino acids and nutrients are easily, and quickly, absorbed into the bloodstream. 

These are just a few ways that you can help boost you immune system, but there are many others. Ensuring you eat a well balanced, healthy diet, and keeping your body active will also help your immune system functionality and overall health.

Here's to your health in 2018!