Don't want to catch the funk going around?         

5 Steps to a Bulletproof Immune System

My kids spend enough time in childcare to bring home all kinds of booger producing fun.

I recently experienced a doozy when both got pinkeye, combined with some other funk that had my son vomiting.

Did I mention my husband was conveniently out of town?

If you’ve ever woken up with a crusty swollen eye, looking like a hot mess, you know how contagious conjunctivitis is. Constant hand washing is a must.

That protocol, however, was pretty much tossed as I cleaned up vomit and chased after kids with eyedrops.

Did I mention I absentmindedly ate baby carrots off my son’s plate and mistakenly kissed my daughter’s oozing eye?

You'd expect nuzzling up to all this infection would have taken me out. Not the case.

My immune system was well armed for the occasion because of these simple steps:

Hydrate

Our body is made up of 60 to 75 percent water. No wonder we start feeling like crap when we don’t get enough!

Water boosts immunity by flushing out toxins. And Unlike what Tropicana’s marketing team will tell you, orange juice does not boost your immune system.

One orange with the fiber-rich white membrane intact is great but when you condense the juice of a pound of oranges into one glass, it’s pure sugar, which actually shuts down the immune system!

Stick with clean filtered water.

Probiotics

I was shocked when I first learned 80 percent of our immune system is located in our gut.

That's why probiotics, which build the good bacteria in the digestive system, are so important. My personal favorite supliment is Metagenics Ultra Flora Plus.

Keep it in the fridge and take it on an empty stomach.

An even better way to get your probiotics is to eat naturally fermented foods, like Kimchi or Bubbies pickles. 

Sleep

The less sleep you get, the less likely your body will be able to fight colds and bacterial infections.

Sleep deprived bodies are also less likely to benefit from a flu vaccine.

A minimum of 7 to 8 hours is best.

Eat your vitamins

The absolute best way to bulletproof your immune system is to fill your plate with nature’s multivitamins: Green vegetables, fruit, flax seed, garlic, fish and pretty much anything that is a whole food.

Avoid alcohol, sugar, white flour and eat dairy in moderation, preferably organic.    

Decompress 

Stress suppresses your immune system. 

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: Everyone is stressed, It’s life.

I agree but it’s how you respond to it that counts. When faced with traffic, a load of work, a child pitching a fit…instead of tensing up and holding your breath, take five deep breaths with slow exhales and then face the situation.

Also, let yourself unwind. I'll admit I watched the entire series of Breaking Bad without coming up for air but finishing a stressful day by watching an intense TV show only keeps your mind in that fight-or-flight state. Instead, watch a comedy or better yet, try a soothing bath or a cup of decaf tea. 

If you follow all this and still get sick, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes getting sick is the body’s only way of communicating that it needs a break. So give yourself that break and don’t try to muscle through it.