3 essentials to boost your immune system before winter
Why do changing autumn temperatures affect our health? Let's start by saying that the cause of a drop in the immune system when autumn temperatures change is not unique. Many factors contribute to the proliferation of microbesThe result is a weakening of our immune system, with the potential to make us ill..3, 4
Of course, our bodies are constantly trying to maintain a constant temperature of 37°C. It becomes overworked when exposed to heat for too long, and similarly when affected by low temperatures (compensated by a whole metabolic process to keep it warm). This expenditure of energy, if not properly balanced, leads to a reduction in vital strength and a lowering of the immune system..3, 4
Despite all our efforts to keep warm, the cold still manages to affect us, in addition to being the time of year when we are also affected by the lack of light..3, 4
Causes of low immunity
Cold weather brings with it changes in lifestyle that have a short-term impact. Exercise is a natural health factor.
Winter is often a time when we become more withdrawn. We isolate ourselves so as not to face winter... in our over-insulated homes, which become places of stale air as we breathe the same air over and over again. These same homes, overheated with low humidity levels, also create conditions that weaken our immune system, i.e. "dry mucous membranes". It's all a question of balance!3, 4
Getting your body used to winter's cold
- Exercise helps the body to raise its basal body temperature (for those reluctant to go out in the cold, do some warm-up exercises before going out).
- Slightly and gradually lower the temperature in your home to help you adapt.
- Get outside regularly
- Heat is lost in the extremities, so make more effort to keep them warm.
There's no such thing as the wrong temperature, only the wrong clothes. To keep warm, you need several layers (especially wool)..3, 4
Good to know
- Good muscle mass is a heat promoter, hence the importance of physical activity (stretching, weights, etc.).
- It's normal to have a bigger appetite when temperatures drop. The body needs more energy to warm up.
- Thermogenesis (the body's ability to warm up) differs from one person to another, depending on its basic metabolism.
- Age is an important factor; for example, babies do not yet regulate their body temperature well, and the elderly have reduced circulation..3, 4
Immunity is not the same for everyone
Factors that influence our immunity
- Our general state of health
- Age
- Gender
- Genetics
- Exposure to pathogens and pollutants
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Stress
- Sleep
- Hormonal health
- Alcohol and tobacco2
Our lifestyle habits and the winter cold
- Eating a nutrient-rich diet that promotes good digestion and supports a balanced pH between acid and alkaline
- Maintain good intestinal transit
- Good concentration and creativity
- Get enough sleep, a deep and recuperative sleep
- Have a healthy weight
- A clear complexion
- High zest for life
The fight against viruses
Our marvellous immune system is on constant standby to catch any bacteria or viruses that might enter our body. So it's always ready to thwart any invasion. So it's vital to have good immune defenses.1, 2
Signs of a weakened immune system appear... when an aggressor has succeeded in breaking through our body's barriers.
Most viruses use highly simplified genetic material (ribonucleic acid or RNA) to reproduce. Thanks to proteins, they penetrate our cells and use them as veritable production factories, enabling them to multiply and provoke a whole series of symptoms, which vary greatly depending on the person and the virus..1, 2
3 essentials for boosting your immune system
Support your immune system with liquid supplements of from Land Art.
The benefits of liquid supplements :
- First, liquid supplements are easy to swallow.
- Often flavored, they are particularly suitable for children and the elderly without swallowing problems, unlike tablets or capsules.
- It's easy to personalize the dosage, which can be progressive or even degressive, or even dose-adjustable.
- Mixes well with liquids, as in a smoothie or other liquid recipe.
- An excellent form for its bioavailability (the active ingredients pass rapidly through the body and are therefore rapidly effective).
- Higher concentrations of active ingredients are more easily tolerated
- Liquid preparations are homogeneous
- Vitamin-mineral and antioxidant complexes are easy to find in liquid form5, 7
1) Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential, water-soluble nutrient naturally present in many fruits and vegetables. This vitamin performs many functions in the body, such as supporting the immune system, aiding wound healing, maintaining skin and bone health, contributing to collagen formation and tissue growth and repair. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant, helping to cleanse the body or rid it of harmful substances.
When the body is fighting an infection, it is important to increase the dosage of vitamin C on a daily basis. Taken regularly, it helps reduce the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms..5, 8
2) Vitamin D3
Vitamin Dalso known as the "sunshine vitamin", has a direct impact on our mood. And a deficiency of the latter causes a multitude of health problems, including osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, symptoms of viral infections, etc. Vitamin D is a remarkable ally in supporting the immune, nervous and neuromuscular systems, and acts as an antioxidant throughout the body.
According to data, the majority of people living in the northern hemisphere of the planet are deficient in vitamin D due to limited exposure to sunlight. What's more, the use of sunscreens prevents the absorption of vitamin D by the skin. Added to this are the many months of winter with less light. It's therefore essential to take a vitamin D supplement to cover our needs, given that diet alone (especially fatty fish, eggs, fortified dairy products and offal) is not enough..5, 9
Are you familiar with SAD? It's a form of depression that's directly linked to the changing seasons and occurs every year.
Symptoms worsen as autumn progresses, and last until spring. This is due to the reduced hours of sunshine in autumn and winter, which causes a drop in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our mood.
Serotonin also triggers our production of melatonin, the hormone that helps us fall asleep and affects our sleep cycles. Poor sleep means fatigue, which accumulates over time. Nothing to help the mood...5, 9
When we're faced with the need for more vitamin Dit is now possible to have a higher concentration of 2500 IUavailable from Land Art.5, 9
3) Black cumin oil
Black cumin oilalso known as Nigella oil, has many medicinal properties. It has a reputation for curing everything except... death. Thymoquinone is the active ingredient that gives it its many benefits. It is anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antihistaminic, antibacterial, antiviral and antiparasitic. It is also said to have benefits for the digestive system.
It is said to relieve bloating and colitis symptoms, as well as improving the condition of people with slow or difficult digestion. Not to mention its effect on the respiratory system, since it has "bronchodilator" virtues, i.e. it helps to dilate the bronchial tubes and ease airway restriction by increasing airflow. Black cumin oil is an extraordinary remedy for people with symptoms such as asthma..2, 5, 6
Why does black cumin oil support the immune system?
Black cumin or Nigella oil has immunomodulatory properties, particularly on T lymphocytes, which are cytotoxic cells that destroy virus-infected cells and cancer cells. Black cumin oil can act both on innate immunity (intervenes whatever the pathogen) and on acquired immunity (has a memory that destroys the aggressor every time) by increasing the activity of NK cells, which belong to the lymphocyte family.
Black cumin oil from Land Art is cold-pressed and certified organic and GMO-free..1, 2, 5, 6
To fight off aggressors such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and poisons, the immune system is simply vital!
About the author
Marie Couture, Certified Naturopath
Specialized in :
- Digestive disorders
- Inflammation
- Hormonal problems
- Stress management
References :
- Labelle Yvon, Overcoming rheumatoid and inflammatory diseasesÉditions Souffle de vie, 2003, 299 pages
- Liesse Véronique, Lefief-Delcourt Alix, L'alimentation ''Spécial immunité''.Leduc Éditions, 2020, 297 pages.
- https://www.rds.ca/en-forme/5-trucs-pour-habituer-son-corps-au-froid-l-hiver-1.14669588