Immunity 101: How to Stay Healthy this Winter

Year in and year out, colder weather brings an increase in cold and flu cases. To stay your healthiest and happiest this time of year, it is important to take steps to strengthen your immune system.  

While there is no magical cure for avoiding illnesses and viruses, there are a few habits you can adopt that will help you stay healthy during high transmission months. Here are few ways to best support your natural defense system: from getting enough sleep, to staying hydrated, and of course, enjoying the healing properties of raw kombucha. 

Immunity 101 

To first understand the ways we can stave off colds and flus, it is important to understand what immunity is so that we can best support it. There are many types of immunity, but in short immunity refers to the body’s ability to protect itself from disease-causing microorganisms.  

Our immune responses work by recognizing foreign particles (such as viruses and bacteria) that enter the body and creating antibodies that attack those foreign particles. Therefore, if the body has a strong immune system, it will be able to better fight off any potential illnesses or infections. There are several ways you can boost your immunity this winter and all year long... 

How to Boost Your Immunity 

Drink Your Probiotics 

Boosting your immunity this winter does not have to be difficult or expensive if you know what steps to take! Drinking kombucha is one way to improve your immune system without breaking the bank or changing your lifestyle. The fermentation process of kombucha uses bacteria and yeast to create probiotics that provide many health benefits such as improved digestion, reduced inflammation, gut health, increased energy levels, and more. 

Also, the antioxidants found in kombucha are shown to be anti-inflammatory, which may lead to improved health over time. Beyond its many benefits, SYNERGY Raw Kombucha is made with the highest quality superfoods for the most probiotics of any kombucha available. Plus, its potent ingredients have their own immunity boosting benefits like ginger, cayenne, elderberry, blue spirulina, algae and more. 

Take Supplements 

Supplements can also be a great addition to your existing diet. In a perfect world we would all be eating whole, living, and fermented foods that are vibrant in color and rich in nutrients daily. However, there are times when our bodies may need an extra boost and, in those instances, vitamins are a way to help strengthen your immunity.  

Of the best vitamins for strengthening your defense system, Vitamin C is well known for its immune-boosting properties. Other vitamins such as Vitamin D and zinc are effective in strengthening the immune system as well. 

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is key to staying healthy. Hydration helps stave off illness by making sure the body is functioning as it should. When the body is dehydrated there is resource scarcity which suppresses immune function leaving you susceptible to infectionⁱ. If you wake up feeling ill or notice an increase in sick coworkers, friends, and family, increasing your hydration can strengthen your body’s ability to ward off pathogens.  

Once sick, symptoms like fevers can also dehydrate the body. In that case replenishing the body’s fluids becomes the priority for recovery. For superior hydration, Agua de Kefir has naturally occurring electrolytes and probiotics so you can stay hydrated, and your immunity can remain strong.  

Get Plenty of Rest 

Research has shown that not getting enough sleep, or quality sleep has negative effects on your body’s ability to fight infectionⁱⁱ. Consistent sleep is necessary to produce cytokine (proteins released by the immune system during sleep) which promote more sleep. Infection fighting antibodies and cells are also reduced during periods where you are not getting enough sleepⁱⁱⁱ. Bolster your health by getting at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night^iv.  

Stay Active

Staying physically active is known to have a positive effect on immunity. We see this because exercise stimulates immune cells to patrol the body for infection. Once identified, these cells can be eliminated. The New York times reports that just a few hours of moderated exercise throughout a week can increase immune cell circulation^v.  

The intensity of the exercise is not as relevant though. Walking, jogging, and finding other ways of staying active is enough to build up active immunity. And if you’re looking to boost your energy levels to stay active, kombucha has natural caffeine content.  

Immunity Begins Within  

Of course, there are common sense steps to keeping the common cold or flu at bay like washing your hands and building healthy and transformative habits, but true immunity begins within. Immunity relies on wholistic health that includes getting enough sleep, reducing stress, staying active and fueling your body with a healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  

Next time you feel a cold coming on, or are worried about catching one, take action to help strengthen and build a healthy immune system.