As part of a healthy diet, these practices can help support a healthy immune system and functional body and mind. This list is in no way exhaustive, but mainly things that I have had positive experience with.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Despite tasting incredibly awful, in my humble opinion, this is good for so many things. I’ve had friends who have reported having colds/flu multiple times per year, and after starting to drink this somewhat daily, report now a significant decrease in the number of cold/flu symptoms, or having almost none at all. In my experience, this is a great immune system booster. See the info below for more specifics about why it’s good for you.
Suggested Dosage: 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon, added to 8 oz water or juice. Drink this several times per day when feeling sick, 1 per day for regular maintenance of health.
Read more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/03/21/apple-cider-vinegar-uses.as px
Sinus Cleansing:
For people who deal with sinus infections, allergies, etc., the Neti Pot, SinuCleanse, or another product, is helpful in rinsing out the sinus cavities and providing relief from these symptoms. Yes, it’s a bit strange the first few times, but you will get used to it. And no, you shouldn’t worry about drowning!!
Suggestions: It is recommended to use ONLY PURIFIED WATER with the salt solution, to avoid using water that might not be totally clean, as some tap water is not.
Echinacea:
Echinacea is a herb/plant. A review of more than 700 previous studies concluded that echinacea does have a substantial effect in preventing colds and limiting their duration. The analysis found that echinacea reduced the risk of catching a cold by 58 percent, and that the duration of a cold was significantly reduced.
Suggested Dosage: see package insert/product instructions - I suggest purchasing this from a natural health food store or herb store. I have always had echinacea in a tincture, where I would just add a number of drops into juice or water, or even directly into my mouth, but it depends on your preference.
Read more: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/07/27/echinacea-really-works.aspx
Digestive Enzymes:
We eat food, but our digestive system doesn’t absorb food, it absorbs nutrients. Food has to be broken down from things like steak and broccoli into its nutrient pieces: amino acids (from proteins), fatty acids and cholesterol (from fats), and simple sugars (from carbohydrates), as well as vitamins, minerals, and a variety of other plant and animal compounds. Digestive enzymes, primarily produced* in the pancreas and small intestine, break down our food into nutrients so that our bodies can absorb them. If we don’t have enough digestive enzymes, we can’t break down our food—which means even though we’re eating well, we aren’t absorbing all that good nutrition. Many people suffer with long-term GI problems (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, cramping, etc.) and find relief from adding a digestive enzyme to their diet.
Suggested Dosage: see package insert/product instructions -- typically 1-2 capsules with a meal, or before the meal.
Please remember that supplements by themselves cannot be the sole source of nutrients in your diet. You can’t eat junk food, fast-food, and restaurant food and expect to just take some supplements and be healthy. It doesn’t work that way. You need to eat a diet that is MOSTLY vegetables, fruit, and whole foods. Additionally, don’t worry if you can’t buy organic produce. Organic produce is best, due to the fact it doesn’t have the pesticide exposure that conventional produce has. However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) states that the benefits from eating conventional produce (pesticide exposed fruits/veg) still outweighs the negatives of the pesticide exposure. So, eat all your veggies, even if they are not organic. If you have a few bucks to afford the organic produce, then start with the Dirty Dozen, which is the EWG’s list of the 12 most pesticide-exposed fruit/veg. 1. Strawberries 2. Apples 3. Nectarines 4. Peaches 5. Celery 6. Grapes 7. Cherries 8. Spinach 9. Tomatoes 10. Bell Peppers 11. Cherry Tomatoes 12. Cucumbers Purchase these Organic, if you can, cause these have the most pesticide residue.