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