Your immune system is engaged in a constant battle against invasions of foreign antigens or disease causing pathogens. Immune system health is all about reducing the susceptibility to disease. An unhealthy immune system leads to frequent illnesses.

Immune system health is directly dependent upon what we eat, drink, breathe and wear. The human body is programmed to cleanse toxins naturally but there is a set limit of how much toxins it can process successfully. The present day scenario of overwhelmingly huge amounts of toxins in the environment, in commercial foods as preservatives and pharmaceuticals has sort of ‘clogged’ the natural cleansing nerve tracts in the body.

Whereas, environmental toxins can be averted only if concerted efforts are made on national levels for a greener world, it is within our capacity to maintain our own bodies if we really want to. Food and drugs form the major proportion of the toxins that we ingest on daily basis.

The body’s ability to fight disease is greatly affected by our dietary habits. The right choice of food can boost your immune system to enable you to combat bacteria efficiently. Fast and processed foods are completely lacking in nutrients. Additionally, the use of microwave oven leaks electro magnetic radiation and converts cooked food into toxins and carcinogens.

Fats and refined foods harm the immune system too. White flour, white sugar, white rice, white potatoes, white salt are all refined and should only be taken occasionally. Sugar, especially refined sugar, is one of the biggest villains. One spoon of refined sugar can halt the immune system responses for six hours.

Instead relying on food supplements and commercial foods that may be containing preservatives and additives try to stick to fresh home cooked meals. In addition look out for herbs for immune system, the mainstay of the healthy life that our grandparents led.

Vitamin C is a commonly known antibacterial and antiviral nutrient. Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C needs calcium and magnesium for easy absorption. Although milk is an excellent source of calcium, some people have intolerance to lactose in milk. Sea food, especially salmon, tuna and crabmeat are excellent sources of calcium, magnesium and vitamin C.

Get a rich supply of zinc from eggs, mushrooms, spinach, nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and whole grains. Parsley, onions, garlic and ginger are rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant, which stimulates the immune system.

Pharmaceuticals, especially antibiotics, tend to inflict damage to the immune system through their side effects and inherent toxicity. Conventional medicine focuses on immediate relief and chooses the antibiotic alternative rather too frequently. The patient may show signs of immediate relief but long terms effects of antibiotics are worse than the benefit derived from them.

Many minor ailments require a wait and watch policy and go away on their own. Homeopathy and herbal antibiotics provide real long term benefits. The main focus of alternative therapies has been to treat symptoms as body’s responses for self-healing and on strengthening the immune system.