Featured Question

How can I keep my immune system healthy, especially during flu season?

Dr. Lanphier's Answer

Keeping the immune system healthy is really not that difficult to do, but you must be consistent. We also must realize that a healthy immune system does not necessarily mean you will never get sick. But what it does mean is that if you do get sick your symptoms will be much milder and short lived compared to someone who has immune system difficulties---down time will be much less, also.

Keeping the digestive tract clean is of up-most importance. A liver/gallbladder/digestive tract cleanse should be performed at least two time yearly --- preferably Spring and Fall.

A healthy diet with lots of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables is also a must. Eliminating refined sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils, pre-packaged and canned foods, grocery store dairy and grocery store meat is also recommended. All of our clients are asked to follow the healthy diet information in Optimum Health Strategies…Doing What Works e-book.

Drinking half of your body weight in ounces of pure, clean water every day will help to keep toxins flushed from the body.

Getting at least 30 minutes of sunshine every day by taking a brisk walk is also very important.

Eating 1-2 cloves of organic garlic (be sure to smash it up before you eat it) every day will help to build up the immune system. Garlic acts like a natural antibiotic.

Supplements: I recommend GlycoEssential 7 with Optimum Mushroom Complex for anyone who is experiencing immune system concerns. Right now that is most of the population. This product is great for prevention and also great for those that are going through adjunctive therapy of any kind. I also suggest Latero-Flora to keep good bacteria in the digestive tract. A good organic multi-vitamin/mineral complex like intraMax is also recommended.

Keeping stress and negative emotions in check is also very important. Stress brings the immune system down and, in fact, many people become sick after experiencing a stressful event or a stressful time in the work place. Try to find at least 30 minutes everyday where you can be alone and meditate, read, listen to good music or just sit and be quiet.

Keeping the elimination routes open and functioning is very important. The elimination routes are: Respiration, Diaphoresis (Sweating), Urination, Defecation, Lymphatic (blood) and for women, menses. It is interesting to note that, in women, the cessation of menses (menopause) is when many diseases begin to present themselves so it is important to keep the endocrine (hormone) system as balanced as possible. All of these functions help to eliminate toxins from the body thereby helping the immune system to function normally.

If you should find yourself feeling run down and fatigued, your body is telling you to slow down and rest. This is a warning sign that something needs to be done---compare it to when the oil light comes on in your car. Hopefully, you take measures very quickly to get it fixed and don’t keep running it. The same principle applies to your body.

Take some time for yourself and implement the suggestions above---before the “oil light” for your body comes on..

Take Care & Be Well,
Dr. Loretta Lanphier