by Steven M. Rachlin, M.D.
The most important new threats to our immune health seem to come from the combination of changes we have made to our environment. Pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, and airborne and water pollution 
create constant challenge for the liver and anti-inflammatory functions of the body. But there are natural ways to achieve a better immune response.
Good health starts with a healthy lifestyle: Get plenty of sleep to recharge and repair your body, and eat your veggies. Consuming a diverse, more plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to support gut, and thus immune health. Make functional foods a major part of your diet. Seek out greens and bitters, seed and nut oils, bright-colored fruits and veggies, and beans and rice. Medicinal mushrooms and fermented foods also benefit your body. Bitters made from botanicals, like aromatic herbs, bark, roots and fruit, are being more appreciated for their support for liver, gut and immune health.
Eating a nutrient-rich diet; getting adequate sleep; reducing exposure to pathogens, toxic chemicals and drugs; getting adequate exercise; and eliminating chronic stress are just a few points that will significantly help to improve one’s immune system.
Research has shown that by consuming foods known to strengthen the immune response, such as yogurt (probiotics); oats; garlic; seeds and nuts (minerals, such as zinc and selenium); whole grains (B vitamins); colored fruits and green vegetables (rich in beta–carotene and vitamins A, C and E); and fresh fish (supplies essential fatty acids, vitamin D and coenzyme Q10), people can improve on immune status. Other natural immune builders include colostrum; green tea; and medicinal mushrooms, such as maitake and reishi. A healthy environment in the digestive tract can be achieved by maintaining the integrity of the mucosal lining, the prevalence of beneficial bacteria within the stomach, and a proper pH, as well as eliminating inflammatory and allergenic foods in the diet.
Just about all of the essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids, play a role in maintaining a strong immune system. Research has shown that supplements that provide optimum levels of vitamins A, C, D3 and E; minerals, such as selenium and zinc; coenzyme Q10; essential fatty acids; Beta1,3; high-potency probiotics; amino acids, such as N-acetyl cysteine; and curcumin all support a healthy immune system. Taking a multivitamin has been associated with significantly fewer infections in adults less than 65. Reducing a low-grade inflammatory response through botanical anti-inflammatories, such as turmeric and ginger, is also helpful.
Source: Steven M. Rachlin, M.D., of Rachlin Medical Center (927 Willis Ave., Albertson), has been practicing for more than 30 years. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-873-7773 or visit RachlinMedical.com.
