The transition to autumn is often accompanied by a drop in temperature and an increase in humidity, which weakens the immune system and makes it less resistant to the various surrounding viruses.
1 – Strengthen your nutritional densities
Healthy living is the main lever that you can control on a daily basis to strengthen your defences. Sleeping well, regular physical activity, but also and above all, having a varied and balanced diet are essential to maintain the proper functioning of your immune system. An unbalanced diet lacking in micronutrients negatively impacts the body’s ability to respond. While certain nutrients, such as Vitamin D, Zinc, and Copper, play a major role in each phase of immune response and its proper development.
Vitamin D
80% of the French population don’t have enough Vitamin D. This deficiency is all the more pronounced in winter with the lack of sunlight. However, Vitamin D is essential to boost natural defences.
This is why vitamin D supplementation is recommended, especially at this time of year. Ideally, you should choose a Vitamin D supplement that is 100% natural in origin, which is better assimilated than a synthetic one. Often extracted from lanolin (sheep’s wool), there are also sources of vegetable Vitamin D3 extracted from lichen to meet vegans’ expectations.
The whole family should take these supplements, without forgetting the little ones, for whom Vitamin D also contributes to normal growth and healthy bones.
For children over three years of age, innovative and fun galenics, such as gummies are a practical option. Always choose formulas without gelatine, preservatives, flavourings, or artificial colouring.
Copper and zinc
Zinc and Copper are two essential trace elements to support the proper functioning of the immune system.
They make it possible to optimise the multiplication and differentiation of white blood cells, which are involved in the first line of defences to neutralise pathogens. They are also involved in other reactions that regulate inflammation and help protect our cells against oxidative stress, thanks to their antioxidant properties.
2 – Strengthen the intestinal barrier
The intestinal microbiota (all the microorganisms that evolve along our digestive system) are an integral part of the intestinal ecosystem. Moreover, they play a key role in immunity. During the first years of life, the microbiota allows the body to develop intestinal immunity. They help our body distinguish pathogenic species from commensals (good bacteria).
Subsequently, on a daily basis, the good bacteria contribute, in particular, to the body’s defences. It is essential to strengthen your intestinal microbiota and take care of them to support your immunity through probiotics that provide the right strains, such as:
3 – Detox
Detoxification or a “detox cure” is a process of removing toxins and unnecessary substances that can have harmful effects on your health. These toxins can be endogenous (produced by the body) or exogenous (of environmental origin).
Doing a detox with the changing of the seasons is useful to cleanse the body and prepare it physically for new climate conditions.
The best way to detoxify the body is to improve the functions of the five main emunctories, namely the liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, and intestines.
The liver
This is the most important of emunctories. It plays a vital role in neutralising toxins in the blood. This is because a large part of the body’s toxic waste is eliminated by bile. Therefore, the gallbladder must function properly in order to ensure the detoxification of the body.
The kidneys
They act as a filter for toxic substances produced by the body and carried by the blood. The kidneys eliminate them through the urine.
The skin
It eliminates toxins in the form of crystals by sweating (sweat glands) and in the form of glue in sebum (sebaceous glands).
The lungs
They are also involved in the process of eliminating toxins from the body in the form of gases.
The intestines
Finally, all waste from other organs in the body end up in the intestines. They eliminate them with the stool. Phytotherapy uses specific plants with detoxifying and purifying properties to eliminate toxins.
Indeed, plants with draining virtues, in addition to stimulating the functions of the emunctory organs, promote the drainage of waste via the lymphatic system.
Birch sap, artichoke, and dandelion, for example, are some of the plants that activate bile production and liver function. Birch sap also participates in the toning of the liver.
White dead-nettle and quackgrass help balance the intestines. White dead-nettle purifies the digestive system. It also improves the functioning of the intestinal flora.
Urinary elimination through the kidneys is promoted by dandelion extract. Dandelion is the plant best known for its detoxifying and purifying capacity.
To purify your body fully, choose a complete formula that acts on the five emunctories and follow the treatment at each change of season.
For some more tips
Along with Micronutrition and Phytotherapy, Aromatherapy also offers 100% natural alternatives to strengthen the immune system:
