5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Immune System This Cold Season

Even if you haven’t experienced it yourself, you undoubtedly know that cold and flu season is here. If you have children, they’re sick—or their friends are—and if you don’t take the proper precautions, you might be next.

I’m into easy, quick, effective things. If it helps, I’m doing it—especially if it has to do with my health.

Here are five easy ways to boost your immune system to fight off (or speed up the cycle of) a cold.

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5 Tips to Boost Your Immune System

Tip #1: Incorporate a multi-vitamin into your morning routine.

Multi-vitamins are a great way to boost your immune system by filling in micro deficiencies in your daily diet (beyond just Vitamin C). I’m currently taking a liquid multi-vitamin because of its high absorption rate (98% compared to 20% for pills and gummies).

Tip #2: Add ginger into your food and/or drinks.

Ginger is a natural antibacterial and it’s rich in Vitamin C, so it’s the perfect immune booster. I’ve been adding a chunk of ginger into my morning smoothie, or I’ll grate it into my tea at night.

Tip #3: Hit the infrared sauna.

Infrared saunas cause the body’s core temperature to rise, which increases white blood cell production, in turn triggering the immune system and causing the body to releases impurities, eventually releasing those impurities through your pores/sweat. It’s the perfect detox if you’re feeling a little sluggish. If you can’t get to an actual infrared sauna, a session in the gym is the next best thing to get your lymphatic system moving and to draw out impurities through sweat.

Tip #4: Sleep, a lot.

Never underestimate the power of a good (think: 8+ hour) night of sleep. While you sleep, your body is regenerating in so many ways—notably, it’s bolstering the T cells that work to fight off infection. So if you’re having trouble sleeping, try diffusing a lavender essential oil, or taking a dose of THC-free CBD (like this one).

Tip #5: Go for garlic.

There are tons of supplements out there for odorless garlic consumption, but there’s nothing like the real, fresh thing. Whole garlic contains a compound called alliin. When garlic is crushed or chewed, this compound turns into allicin, which has very strong antibacterial properties (only present for a few moments after the raw garlic is crushed until it becomes unstable). Try placing a raw clove between two apple slices, swallowing a clove as a pill, or finely chopping it and mix it in with another substance on a spoon.

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