Cold Temps Incoming - A Dietitian's Top Tips To Take Care of Your Immune System

Do you have any routines in place to keep from getting sick? With the colder weather quickly approaching, our immune system health is critical. So how can we include small, daily habits that support our immunity? Here are my top three tips.

1. Prioritizing meals and snacks that are high in whole foods is the best method to get in essential vitamins and minerals that help prevent the onset of illness. One of my favorite seasonal fall snacks is the Pumpkin Pecan Sans Meal Bar. This snack is made up of whole foods ingredients like pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and pecans.

Pumpkin Seeds are a great source of antioxidants and Vitamin E that help lower inflammation in the body and protect us against diseases.

Flax seeds are an excellent source of Omega-3’s, an essential fatty acid that we need to obtain from our diet. Omega-3’s are perfect for aiding our body in recovery from daily activities.

Pecans are a fall favorite nut to add into different recipes or enjoy on their own! They’re a great source of zinc, a key mineral in supporting immune health, cell reproduction, and brain health.

Not only are whole foods ingredients important for immune health, making sure that we’re eating enough throughout the day will give our body the additional energy required to fight sickness.

2. Using high quality, third party tested supplements to give our immune system a “level-up.” I like to use Pure Synergy to keep my immune system in optimal shape, especially in these colder months. Their Immune Health capsules, made with 7 different types of mushrooms, are a great addition into my routine to support my overall health. These can be taken throughout the year to show your immune system some love!

Pure Synergy’s Rapid Rescue capsules are also a great addition in stressful periods of our life, season changes, or when we’re feeling the onset of illness starting to creep in. This is one of my favorite supplements to have on hand.

3. Getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Research has shown us that sleep is the foundation of health and wellness. This is when our body takes the time to clear out any unwanted things from our day and refresh our brain. It can be difficult to put sleep ahead of all of the other things on our to-do list, but without great sleep of at least 7-9 hours, our immune system won’t function optimally, leaving us more prone to sickness. 

I’d love to hear from you! How do you take care of your immune system in the colder months?