The weather has changed late here in Alabama, and the seasons aren’t quite sure exactly where they want to be. There is school, meals, and practice to think about on top of decorating, shopping, and all the preparation that goes into those special days with your family. When you couple this with the fact that temperatures are finally falling and the sun isn’t out as much as it was a few months ago, it can be much easier to feel the effects of the season. If there has ever been a time of year to watch your diet and maintain your immune system, it is now, especially for your children involved in sports throughout Birmingham. Although their lives may seem simpler than yours as adults, they feel the effects of stress and the change of season just like an adult.
In my office, one thing we often talk about with patients is supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals. Not everyone does it these days, but they should. Here is why: Even if you eat very healthy, you’re limited by how your food is produced. Unfortunately, the modernization of food production in our country often strips or leaves out many of the nutrients that the food is known for. Even if you ate all fruits and vegetables all the time, you still would most likely need to supplement your diet to get all of what your body needs.
Here are some key nutrients you want to supplement to make sure your immune system functions optimally: Vitamins A,C, E, B6, B12, Zinc, Selenium, and Folate are very important. They act as fuel for immune response. Also, much of your immune system is contained in your digestive tract in the form of helpful bacteria which process and deal with many of the other nasty things we come in contact with. Supplementing those helpful bacteria with Prebiotics and Probiotics can increase your chance of illness prevention. An easy way to get those is by eating yogurt, but make sure that the variety you buy doesn’t have too much sugar in it. Finally, emerging research is showing that Vitamin D plays a big role in proper immune response. Vitamin D is primarily acquired through sunlight on the skin, but in the winter, this can be tougher to accomplish as we’re often covered up with coats and long sleeves. If you supplement these key pieces of your diet, your chances of fending off those bugs and bacteria are much higher.
A big reminder: It’s almost always easier to prevent illness than it is to treat it. Drugs like antibiotics leave your immune system weakened and susceptible to further illness afterward. Taking small steps towards your family’s health promotion like supplementing the items mentioned here is a cost-effective and easy way to keep them out on the field, in school, and out of their beds. If you have any questions about any of the items mentioned here, please don’t hesitate to call our office.
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