| As the winter weather continues to keep people | | | | taking elderberry recovered four days sooner |
| close together indoors, viruses causing influenza | | | | from influenza than those taking a placebo. |
| and the common cold are able to more easily | | | | Additionally, the use of other medications was less |
| multiply. However, there are ways to prevent | | | | for those who used elderberry. |
| these unwanted germs from invading your body. | | | | Garlic improves resistance to disease by boosting |
| Here is a list of the top ten dietary supplements | | | | immune function. Many studies have found that |
| that help the immune system fight and repel cold | | | | garlic stimulates immunity because it increases the |
| and flu bugs. | | | | number of white blood cells and other immune |
| AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) is | | | | system team members. A recent study proved |
| made from mushrooms. This supplement was | | | | that a group of individuals taking garlic caught |
| first developed in Japan in the late 1980s and has | | | | significantly fewer colds and recovered more |
| been used and studied for its effect on the | | | | quickly from the colds they did come down with |
| immune system. Last year�s research | | | | than the other group which was taking a placebo. |
| showed that AHCC can boost the activity of | | | | Ginseng boosts immune function in all of its forms. |
| natural killer cells, which destroy the cells that | | | | A study of adults who were taking American |
| have become infected with a virus. | | | | ginseng daily during the winter months found that |
| Andrographis has long been used in Ayurvedic and | | | | those people, compared to those taking a |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine to boost the immune | | | | placebo, caught fewer colds and needed less sick |
| system. Actually, andrographis was first used | | | | days. Additionally, Siberian ginseng and Asian |
| during the Indian flu epidemic of 1919, where it | | | | ginseng can also build defenses against winter |
| was credited with stalling the spread of the | | | | germs. |
| disease. According to research, andrographis | | | | Propolis is created by bees when resins from |
| works better than a placebo for reducing the | | | | plants are mixed with wax. This propolis coats the |
| symptoms of respiratory infections and it may | | | | inside of the beehive with an antiseptic layer and |
| even prevent the infection in the first place. | | | | it can have similar benefits when taken by |
| These studies used a proprietary andrographis | | | | humans. Propolis stimulates the body�s |
| product which combines the herb with a Siberian | | | | immune system. It has been proven in studies |
| ginseng. | | | | that taking propolis extract can protect against |
| Beta glucan is a fiber-like complex sugar that can | | | | colds and other upper respiratory infections. |
| be found in oats, barley, and the cell walls of | | | | Children who take propolis daily for three winter |
| mushrooms. It provides a boost to the immune | | | | months have been proven to catch fewer colds |
| system which enhancing resistance to viruses and | | | | than those kids who are taking a placebo. |
| bacteria. In fact, beta glucan has been shown to | | | | Many research reviews have found that Vitamin |
| boost the activity of phagocytes, special immune | | | | C does reduce the length of a cold episode and |
| system cells which engulf and destroy germs. | | | | weaken the severity of an infection for the |
| Echinacea has a long history of traditional use; | | | | general population. For those individuals who are |
| with it actually being one of the most widely used | | | | engaged in extreme exercise, vitamin C can also |
| herbs in Native American medicine. Instead of | | | | help prevent a cold. |
| having a direct germ-killing effect, Echinacea | | | | Zinc lozenges, when they are taken within 24 |
| stimulates the body�s own immune | | | | hours of the first cold symptom, can keep cold |
| defenses. Many studies go back as far as 1970 | | | | viruses from taking ground in the respiratory |
| have shown that Echinacea boosts the immune | | | | tract. The use of a zinc lozenge every couple of |
| system so that it can protect against infections | | | | hours also causes colds to resolve more quickly |
| invaders. A new study has found that Echinacea | | | | and symptoms to be less severe. |
| can reduce the odds of developing a cold by 58 | | | | Our immune system is out first line of defense |
| percent and shortens the length of a cold to 1.4 | | | | against the cold and flu, as well as the diseases |
| days. | | | | we may come down with. Keeping our immune |
| Elderberry was considered in Roman times to be | | | | system in tip top shape is key to a happier and |
| a flu remedy. Recently, elderberry extract has | | | | healthier life. The above herbs can help boost the |
| been researched for its role in treating influenza | | | | immune system along with a dietary change and |
| infections, especially when it is taken with in the | | | | exercise plan one can reduce the length of or |
| first 24 hours of developing symptoms. One | | | | prevent sickness over a life time. |
| recent study proved that individuals who were | | | | |