Immune Boosters

Even when you follow all the rules for keeping germs at bay, some are bound to make their way into your body. Thankfully, our bodies have an immune system to help fight these germs off and keep them from becoming full-blown illnesses. In healthy people, the immune system does a great job fighting off illness, but it can always use a little extra boost, especially when cold and flu season comes around.

Eating a healthy balanced diet is one important way to keep your immune system strong. This is easier said than done, but it's definitely not impossible. Make sure you're getting adequate protein and other nutrients in your diet. A good-quality multi-vitamin can give your diet some extra help.

Keeping hydrated is another way to keep your body at its best. True, water can taste a bit boring, but you can always jazz it up with some flavoring. Flavored herbal teas work well for this, and they're caffeine free. Another simple and tasty way to flavor water is with lemon juice.

Lemon is a great immune booster because it helps balance your body's supply of healthy bacteria. For sweetness, add some honey or stevia. Stevia is a plant-based natural sweetener that is fairly new on the mainstream market. It's about 300 times sweeter than sugar so a little goes a long way.

Staying fit doesn't just help you look great; it benefits your immune system too. Even during the frosty days of cold and flu season, be sure you make time for some physical activity. Walk around the block, take the stairs at work, or go sledding with the kids.