How I Support My Immune System with a New Supplement* 

This post and recipe were created in partnership with MegaFood®. I am proud to work with brands that care about the health of its consumers and the planet. As always, all opinions, ideas and text are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Tasty Yummies.

As the seasons change, the kiddos are back to school, the holidays loom and the temperatures drop, this is an especially perfect time to prioritize foods, habits and supplements that will help to keep us healthy and take the necessary steps to support our immune health, when we need it most!

I am a firm believer in turning to our diet and nutrition first, when possible, to support our body’s natural processes and efforts. However, when it comes to acute treatment and support, along with deficiencies that may be hard to manage and remedy exclusively through our diet, I think supplementation is an incredible and super helpful option. Even the healthiest of eaters can’t always obtain essential nutrients from diet alone; this is when I turn to and recommend supplemental support.  And I’m not alone – according to a recent survey distributed by MegaFood®, pioneer of premium supplements made with whole foods, 80% of respondents take vitamins and supplements, with 73% taking them on a daily basis. 

Those who indicated they do not take vitamins and supplements say it is because they’re not sure they work (30%) or they don’t know what to take (27%). However, they did agree on one thing – an overwhelming majority of participants (87%) would take vitamins and supplements if they were made with real, whole foods. MegaFood is leading this trend by delivering essential vitamins and minerals in a way that nature intended, with REAL foods. 

With all the buzz around non-GMO and organic certifications, and recently with news of the harmful chemical glyphosate being found in common foods, consumers will continue to look to brands like MegaFood that produce products that are GMO-free and tested glyphosate residue free and truly transparent. MegaFood was actually the first supplement brand to have its entire product line certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, and products boast additional certifications such as non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian, among others.

As I mentioned, supplementation during the fall and winter seasons can be a good way to fortify your immune system.* That’s why I’ve recently added MegaFood Acute Defense™ to my vitamin cabinet. This new product is made with  Vitamin C, Zinc and Black Elderberry, together with bitter and phytonutrient-rich herbs, including echinacea and andrographis. When you feel the need, take two tablets three times per day for five days. Your immune system will thank you for the support!*

The active ingredients in Acute Defense™ are among my favorites for supporting immune health:

• Vitamin C and zinc are nutrients essential for healthy immune function* 
• Black Elderberry fruit can be used in the early stages of seasonal challenges to support immune function* 
• Echinacea and andrographis are herbs known for powering the immune system* 

 

 

My Immune System Story

I have shared with you all many, many times the struggles I have faced throughout my entire lifetime with my underperforming immune system. It’s been a very long road of working to support and heal. It wasn’t until I went to school for nutrition and spent time reading, studying and researching the immune system that I finally got hold of my immune health.

Today I want to share the top 5 things I did to build up and boost my immune system, all 5 of which I still prioritize for the continued support of my healthy immune function! *

5 Things That I Did and Continue to Do to Support my Immune System:

Gut Healthy* – 70 – 80% of our immune system lives in our gut, so it is important to maintain gut health. Very important immune cells reside in the gut and these are the cells that decide what is friend or foe. I support my gut by avoiding processed and refined foods and instead putting a focus and healthful, whole, nutrient-dense foods, including probiotic-rich, fermented foods and bone broth. These foods along with encouraging mindful eating habits are just some of my favorite ways to support a healthy, strong gut and in turn a strong, healthy immune system.*

Incorporate Stress Reduction / Mindfulness Practices – Stress can cause inflammation in the body.* I prioritize time daily for self care and stress reducing techniques. One of my favorite stress reduction practices is meditation. Even just 5 or 10 minutes a day, meditation is an amazing tool for beating stress and research actually shows it boosts immune function, as well.

Get LOTS of Sleep – Sleep is crucial to a well-functioning immune system. The more fatigued we are, the more susceptible we are to illness. I HAVE to get enough sleep to maintain my strong immune function and a lack of sleep will almost definitely lead to illness for me. 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night is necessary for the body to repair and rebuild itself. 

Get Outside Daily and Catch Rays – Sunshine, vitamin D, fresh air are all integral to our health. Vitamin D affects our hormone balance and immune regulation in the body. On top of the sunshine, being outside exposes us to healthy microorganisms in our environment, many of which can be found in the soil. Research over the last decade or so has shown that the microbes and bacteria in dirt can help boost your immune system ¹https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749%2812%2900519-2/fulltext ²https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30097187 and make you healthier and even happier ³https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18967-eat-bacteria-to-boost-brain-power/.* Consider some time in the garden, if you have one.

Eat Liver – Liver is one of my personal favorite powerhouse superfoods! Organ meats are the most concentrated sources of just about every single nutrient, include very important vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and essential amino acids, many of which work to support a healthy immune system. From Vitamins A, D, E, & K to B-vitamins, selenium, zinc, and high amounts of essential fatty acids, all of which promote a healthy immune system and healthy inflammatory response.*  One of my personal favorite ways to enjoy liver is with a tasty paté, check out my recipe here and learn more about liver here.

As always, I follow a nutrient-dense and anti-inflammatory approach to my diet by avoiding refined grains, dairy, processed foods and sugar and prioritizing in-season produce and properly raised animal proteins and fats! I prioritize movement and exercise and I drink lots of water, all great for supporting a healthy immune system.*

For more ideas and suggestions for natural remedies to boost your immune system, visit this post.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and foods are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.