Immune Health

Good health requires a good immune system.

In Chinese medicine, the immune system refers to the protective Qi (Wei Qi). What is critical to Wei Qi is the ability to absorb essential nutrients from food, getting healthy oxygen from inhaled air.

In naturopathic medicine important aspects of a good immune health include:

• Mainly vegan/vegetarian diet

• Regular exercise

• Avoiding smoking and alcohol

• 6-8 hours of sleep a night

• Regular meals and maintaining a good body weight

• Good nutrition, including:

  1. Adequate protein levels, mainly from plant proteins

  2. Restricting sugar levels to about 50g a day, remember a large apple has about 20g

  3. Increased levels of vegetables for their anti-oxidant effects

• Supplements of Vit A (not for smokers), C, E and D for stimulating, enhancing, supporting immunity and warding off infections/viruses;

• Good levels of Vit B6, B12 and Folic Acid

• Essential minerals: Iron (supplement only when deficient), supplements of Zinc (highly essential, especially for elderly) and Selenium as difficult to get good levels from dietary intake

• Medicinal mushrooms, such as Maitake, Reishi and Shitake ( not for auto immune conditions)

• Go for walks in the parks, de-stress and find joy in every day.
  

  Look after your immune system and your health will thank you for it!