10 Ways To Strengthen Your Immune System

Did you know that most of us are walking around with suppressed immune systems without even knowing it? We think it’s normal to catch bugs and colds all the time as it’s the conventional norm. And then you meet someone who’s not been ill for years and wonder what they’re doing differently. I’ve not actually been ill for 4 years. Some people say that’s down to the fact that I live in a warm climate with sunshine and I’m not exposed to these bugs that are circulating. Without trying to blow my own trumpet (whatever that means), I also subject myself to environments where I may normally get ill, but never do, and I put that down to maintaining a strong immune system. Below are 10 ways to strengthen the immune system.

Before you read the 10 ways, did you know that the part of your immune system which is responsible for getting rid of dead cells and debris, including cancer cells, is your lymphatic system. And did you know that it only functions efficiently when you are physically active? This is because unlike your cardiovascular system which has a pump (your heart) to pump blood around the body, your lymphatic system does not. It requires movement. Guess wha: No one’s moving anymore. In our modern world, we spend most of the time inactive sat in chairs and we are depriving our immune system of its primary requirement; movement. There are plenty of other reasons why sitting has been dubbed the new smoking. This is just one reason.

A year ago I attended an event with Tony Robbins during which, 2,8oo of us were in a large room together for 6 days, 16 hours a day, using our brains all day long, we didn’t get much sleep and really, we were putting our immune system under a fair amount of strain. Out of 2,800 people, I only know of one other person other than me, who didn’t get ill. She too, was a nutritionist and did what I did. I avoided the hotel food, and sought out the fresh salad bars for lunch and dinner. I was drinking several organic vegetable juices every day, drinking plenty of premium quality water, I took my own nutrition bars to sustain me during the long hours and I was taking zinc and other nutritional supplements. You may say it’s just fluke. Maybe it is. Or maybe there was something else going on too.

Did you know that around 70% of your immune system is in your gut? If you do not have a healthy gut, your immune system is suppressed. Did you know that if you have any kind of skin condition, this is an indication that you have imbalance in your body and a suppressed immune system? Check out my video on eczema and other skin conditions to find out more.

Why is it that some people who are exposed to asbestos get cancer and others who are exposed to the same asbestos, do not? Why is it that some people get cancer and others don’t when they’re subjected to seemingly similar conditions? Why is it that people who eat a supposedly healthy diet all their lives get cancer and others who eat the same supposedly healthy diet do not? Something I have learned over the last few years, from The Truth About Cancer series and other pioneers in health and healing, is that cancer cannot grow in a healthy immune system. It cannot grow in a clean body. It cannot grow in a healthy body. We all have cancer cells in us. We’re constantly growing them in fact, it’s just that those with the strong immune system will fight the cancer cells, and those with a weak one, may struggle. And it’s not just diet and inactivity that suppress the immune system. Toxic emotions like stress and trauma can suppress the immune system too.

On the subject of diet, there is a huge difference between what is conventionally healthy and actually healthy. If you’re feasting on wheat and cows’ milk for example, you can bet your bottom dollar, you are suppressing your immune system. If you have a sugary dessert with every meal, you can assume you are weakening your immune system. If your diet is mainly high glycemic carbohydrates of poor quality, you can assume you have a weakened immune system. There a plenty of dietary ways to massively improve the immune system. For now, check out this very cool article from The Truth About Cancer website, about how to improve your immune system.

1. Actively Reduce Stress

The following techniques may improve the flow of lymph fluid through your body by limiting both mental and physical stress on your lymphatic system:

• Good posture
• Stretching regularly
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga and pilates

All excellent strategies to relieve anxiety and support immune function, such practices relieve congestion and stimulate the removal of pathogens from your body.

If you’d like to learn more about the mind body connection, this is a superb interview with Deepak Chopra that I think you’ll love.

2. Exercise

Exercise may possibly be one of the most effective and easiest ways for you to improve your lymphatic system function. Exercising increases the oxygen supply to tissues and cells and stimulates blood circulation. When the body does not regularly move, toxins remain in muscle. A condition known as hypoxia in which there is a lack of oxygen to an area of the body leaves the door open for the invasion and metastasis of cancer.

A fun way to exercise is by bouncing on a mini trampoline (called a rebounder) which is often used in sports therapy to help athletes heal from injuries. This low impact exercise is called rebounding. As the body moves against gravity, the lymphatic system is stimulated to pull lymph fluid carrying toxins through the vessels and circulate.

 

3. Chiropractic Care

The obstruction of any anatomical structure on the thoracic cavity or upper chest region can prevent the final dumping of toxins from the lymphatic system for cleansing. The rib cage works as a major lymphatic pump which is critical for lymphatic circulation. Correcting anatomical abnormalities or displacement from everyday activities helps to promote pressure within the thoracic region which also assists to oxygenate cells.

4. Herbs

Herbs are a great source which we can utilize to detoxify the lymphatic system and remove toxins. Some of the most popular herbal treatments to help the lymphatic system heal include the following:

Essential Oils: Traditional practices have used essential oils to help the body heal for centuries. The PDQ (Physician Data Query) Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine Editorial Board reports that essential oils stimulate healing through neuroimmunomodulation. The use of essential oils strengthens the cancer patient’s immune system by relieving anxiety and stress and improving one’s emotional response.

Milk Thistle: Milk thistle is a strong detoxification agent known to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidneys, and to promote a healthy thyroid. Use milk thistle to help fight inflammation in your body to support a healthy immune system.

Essiac Tea: This herbal treatment may be recommended to patients newly diagnosed with cancer. Essiac tea detoxifies and works to heal the immune system.

Manjistha: Manjistha tea is associated with purifying the liver and blood and can help improve menstrual and skin problems while strengthening the immune system.

5. Perspire

Perspiration is one of the mechanisms by which the human body eliminates toxins. Although exercise can promote perspiration, infrared saunas offer a method to circulate toxins out of organs and muscle for the removal through our pores. Infrared saunas use a non-invasive therapy which is a great alternative for those who cannot participate in vigorous activity to detoxify the body. (Note: The use of saunas is not recommended for those who have had numerous lymph nodes removed as it can increase the risk of lymphedema.)

6. Dry Brushing

Dry brushing aids the removal of toxins that have built up on our skin. Dry brushing involves using a coarse brush to gently be moved along the skin in the direction of the heart. This technique boosts lymph flow by stimulating sweat glands and supporting circulation below the skin.

7. Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Consuming a healthy diet rich in antioxidants and full of healthy fats is critical to support a healthy immune system, especially as we age. Pathogenic agents cannot thrive in alkaline environments which makes eating fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy cell-supporting fats absolutely necessary. Red foods are some of the best anti-inflammatory foods you can consume such as:

• Cranberries, raspberries, and cherries
• Vegetables, especially beets
• Manjistha, also known as “red root”

Lymphatic vessels exist at the site of the intestines and are easily susceptible to destruction from unhealthy diets. Maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal tract helps to ensure not only immune system healing but it also decreases your risk of developing obesity and cardiovascular disease.

8. Hydrate

The lymphatic system is primarily composed of water and must be hydrated to function at the highest level. Drinking purified and mineralized water and water with antioxidant extracts such as lemon water is an excellent detoxification strategy to push toxins from the body.

Dr. John Douillard recommends a lymphatic rehydrating technique which involves sipping warm water every 15 minutes throughout the day for 2 consecutive weeks. This procedure is believed to stimulate the lymphatic system to flow fluidly and relieve congestion and symptoms of a sluggish immune system.

9. Massage

Massage therapy improves immune function and can relieve symptoms of chronic fatigue and pain. Massage techniques such as connective tissue massage promote the flow and drainage of lymph through the body. Patients having been diagnosed with cancer and those receiving a second diagnosis can greatly benefit from massage therapy.

10. Avoid Tight Fitting Garments

Avoid tight fitting garments such as underwire bras to prevent any unnecessary restriction on lymphatic vessels. Lymph nodes are highly concentrated around the chest region to drain fluid from breasts, arms, and the chest. Do not constrict the lymphatic flow.

Supporting Your Lymphatic System When Healing From Cancer

It is critical for individuals with cancer to boost the health of the lymphatic system and detoxify regularly. Removing toxins and supporting lymphatic flow have been shown to decrease the reoccurrence of cancer. One in 5 individuals who have received treatment for breast cancer will be affected by lymphedema later in life. Will you incorporate these detoxification strategies into your daily lifestyle to improve your lymphatic system today?

If you’d to learn more ways of strengthening the immune system by getting rid of inflammation in your body, I’d love you to join my inflammation solution program. Simply put, if you have a degree of chronic inflammation in your body, you will have a suppressed immune system. It is impossible to have a healthy immune system if you are constantly inflamed. Period. And we now all know that chronic inflammation is the building blocks for all chronic diseases. Have you had your blood tested for inflammatory markers? You can start with C-Reactive protein…

Join here. It’s free for one month. Can’t get fairer than that! If you don’t feel decidedly better within 30 days, then cancel the payment.