Here are some natural ways that may help boost your immunity system and fight against the symptoms of colds and flu if you are unlucky enough to catch one. The summer virus’s in New Zealand at the moment can be just as nasty as the winter ones and less expected.

As we all know prevention is better than a cure. Try the following ideas on how to avoid picking up a virus or cold. Especially remember to put these tips in place when you are travelling.

Tips To Help You Avoid Catching a Virus

• • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 to 30 seconds. The use of antibacterial and alcohol-based soaps is recommended.
  • Carry a purse size hand sanitiser with you when you are out. This is a convenient way to ensure your hands stay clean.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Wear a surgical mask if you are in contact with any one who is unwell. This needs to cover your nose as well.
  • Remember if you are feeling unwell, you should restrict your contact with your loved ones to safeguard their health and yours.

Some Natural Ways To Boost Your Immunity

Boost Your Immunity Naturally With Probiotics

Probiotics are a natural way you can boost your immunity and can have big benefits for your gut and this can then have a less obvious effect on your immunity. Adding probiotics to your diet can help to boost your immunity and protect against colds and flu. Restoring levels of good gut bacteria gives your body a platform to fight back against threats and boosts T-cell activity. This makes it easier for your body to kill the virus. The end result is that you should recover a bit quicker and have less severe symptoms.

It’s also thought that probiotics may help to “seal” the intestinal barrier, which can help to stop as many germs and viruses finding a way through.

What to look for in a probiotic

The words “live and active cultures” (or similar) are a must. The lactobacillus acidophilus (l. acidophilus) and/or Bifidobacterium (B. bifidum) strains are two of the most powerful probiotics, which makes them a good choice for improving immunity. Other studies have looked at the Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei strains, which also seem pretty good bets for warding off colds and flu.

As well as probiotic supplements there are probiotic rich drinks and yogurts, and you can also get your probiotics through fermented foods such as kefir, miso, tempeh and sauerkraut.

 Boost Your Immunity Naturally With Honey

You’ve probably heard that honey is a great remedy for colds and sore throat and you might even have been given honey and hot water as a child. There’s a great basis for this too as studies have shown that honey really can help, especially if you’ve got a cough too.

Honey has anti-microbial properties, which makes it a great choice when you’re sick. Studies have shown that certain types of honey can boost immunity and help your body to bounce back more quickly. When you’ve got a cough running alongside a cold or flu, honey can be super effective in relieving it.

Combining honey with cinnamon is great for cutting the length of a cold and easing symptoms. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant qualities so it’s a great move when need to increase your immunity. Ceylon cinnamon can take things up a notch as it contains more nutrients but don’t worry if you can’t find it easily. If you don’t want to take a pure mixture of honey and cinnamon, try adding a teaspoon of honey and a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon to a cup of hot water to make a tea instead. Sip this 2-3 times a day whenever you first feel the symptoms of a cold or flu.

When it comes to honey, not all types are equal

Look for raw honey instead, preferably the organic and unpasteurized kind. Raw honey is often harder to get hold of but it’s much more nutritious and far better at boosting immunity. Manuka honey can be quite pricey but it’s one of the best types of honey from an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory perspective.

Honey isn’t a great choice for babies aged 1 or under. At this age, they haven’t developed immunity against infection, which can be problematic given that some bacteria spores can make it into honey. This can potentially lead to botulism, which can be serious. For adults and older kids, honey can be an underrated weapon in the battle against colds and flu!

Boost Your Immunity Naturally With Ginger

Ginger has been used a lot in traditional Chinese medicine and it’s used to treat a wide range of health problems. Its medicinal properties are largely due to gingerol (the active component in ginger).

The anti-inflammatory benefits can also help with aches and pains from colds and flu. The antioxidants in ginger can boost your immunity and the antimicrobial properties can help to heal a sore throat. And if you’re feeling nauseous because of flu, ginger is a well-known anti sickness remedy.

You can use ginger in a few different ways:

• Creating an herbal mixture of ginger, apple cider vinegar, raw honey, cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice can help to unblock your sinuses, reduce buildup of mucus and improve your immunity.
• Adding 2 tablespoons to a cup of hot water and drinking it up to 3 days a day can ease cold and flu related headaches and sore throat. You can also add half a teaspoon of raw honey.
• Making a warming soup from fresh ginger, turmeric, garlic, carrot and apple.
• Chopping some ginger into small pieces, add to a bowl of hot water and inhale the steam from the water. To make an even more effective steam bowl, you can also add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil. This can be super helpful for easing congestion.
• Rubbing ginger essential oil ( mixed with a carrier oil) on sore and aching muscles will help you get relief from cold and flu pains.
• How much ginger is okay to take? For fresh ginger, don’t exceed 4 grams per day. If you take ginger extract, stick to a maximum limit of 2000 mg.If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor before you try using ginger. Younger children are also best not to consume ginger. If you’re on medications such as blood thinners, anti-inflammatory drugs, beta blockers or immune suppressing drugs, you’ll also need to be cautious with ginger.

Boost Your Immunity Naturally With Elderberry

If you’ve tried a lot of different cold and flu remedies, elderberry is one of the ingredients that you’ve probably come across. This herbal remedy has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes and is very anti-inflammatory. Elderberries contain more flavonoids than blueberries, cranberries and goji berries and this has a lot to do with their immune boosting powers.

According to research, it may be a good choice for treating colds and flu. So much so that it can potentially help symptoms on their way in just a couple of days.

Elderberry has been commonly studied as a cold and flu remedy and the results have been super promising. It seems that elderberry has powerful effects for immunity, which is great news if you’re suffering from flu. Two studies confirmed that it can halve the average length of a flu bout and start to tackle symptoms in 48 hours. This is more likely if elderberry extract is taken within 48 hours of flu symptoms coming on.

A 2016 study looking at colds picked up during air travel found that elderberry extract can cut the length of a cold and make symptoms less severe. There was one catch though … elderberry was taken for up to 10 days before getting on a plane and for up to 5 days after arriving at the destination. Elderberry didn’t stop a cold from occurring but it did reduce the length of time that it lasted for. For most people, their cold was 2 days shorter and symptoms were milder.

How to use elderberry

If you’re eating elderberries, don’t eat the raw seeds. These can potentially make you sick. Fresh or dried elderberries are great choices.

Pre made elderberry syrups are readily available but you could try making your own totally natural version. Dried elderberries are perfect for this as they have a pretty good shelf life. You can just grab a handful when cold or flu strikes. Team dried elderberries with ginger, cinnamon and cloves for a super effective immunity boosting syrup. Simmer the ingredients in water for around 30 minutes, mash up the elderberries, strain out the liquid and leave to cool. Once it’s at room temperature, stir in some raw honey. In the refrigerator, it’ll last for a couple of months.

Look out for my next blog where I will give further tips on how you can improve your immunity with essential oils and I will also fill you in on more natural cures that may help you fight colds and flu’s.

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This website is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute or replacement for medical treatment. Individual results may vary. Please seek the advise of a healthcare professional for specific health concerns.