Just this past week, we started the fall season. We all know during the fall, and especially the winter, people start to become sick with either the flu, a sinus condition or the typical cold with runny nose (aka sniffles).

While flu shots are available in La Grange and La Grange Park, at Jewel and Walgreens for example, there are other ways to boost your immune system as an alternative for those, like myself, who don't endorse the flu shot.

Here are my suggestions for boosting immunity, which families should especially keep in mind as candy-eating-day (Halloween) approaches. use these active steps to prepare yourself for a sick-free winter/flu season.  Start doing these steps immediately so you can help prevent anything that you don't want to happen:

Immune-Boosting Foods: Make sure to check out the farmers markets in La Grange and La Grange Park where there are a variety of fruits and vegetables that can aid the immune system. You can find the farmer's market in La Grange Park on Tuesday mornings near Memorial Park and in La Grange on Thursday mornings behind the La Grange Village Hall. Here is a list of the top ten foods that can help increase one's immune system: tea/green tea; chili peppers; ginger; blueberries; cinnamon; sweet potatoes; tomatoes; figs; mushrooms (reiki, shiitake, maitake); pomegranates.

Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic care helps build and improve the function of the immune system—the first four vertebra of your neck have direct relationships with  your immune system and nervous system. Every time someone receives a chiropractic adjustment, it increases the immune system for seven hours. I know from personal experience that ever since I started getting adjusted, I never been sick since the age of 12. 

Vitamin D: It is essential to have vitamin D. People are in the sun during the cold seasons and this is another major factor to why they get sick in the winter. Make sure you take a high quality supplement that is in the D3 form.

Vitamin C: We all know vitamin C is good for our immune system. It is very well known to help with the common cold. Vitamin C is also very good for healing since it helps with the production of collagen. I know when I start to feel under the weather, I take a lot of vitamin C to help increase my immune system. 

Garlic: Garlic has a triple effect: it's antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal. Garlic is one food that you should be eating every day. It is important to note that the garlic must be fresh to give you optimal health benefits. The active ingredient is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless and should not be used. When you use the garlic, compress it with a spoon prior to swallowing it, or put it through your juicer to add to your vegetable juice. If you swallow the clove intact you will not convert the active ingredient, allicin, to its active form.

Plenty of Rest: Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight off disease. Regular rest will keep you strong and ensure that your body has the strength to fight off any potential invaders.

Exercise: It increases circulation in the body which will also increase circulation of your immune system which can pick out invaders before they have a house to spread in.   

Avoid Sugar: Avoid any type of sugar since it decreases the immune system.  Be aware of how much sugar you intake. If you keep sugar out of your diet long term, it will help build a stronger body and immune system.

Hot Drink Remedy:  One last remedy that I always tell my practice members to do when feeling under the weather is to mix and drink the following: 1 cup of hot water (not tap water); 1 lemon freshly squeezed (recommend organic); 1 tbsp of honey; 1 pinch of cayenne pepper; 1 crushed garlic (just let it sit in the cup and then take out); if you want, add red clover to stimulate the immune system more. Lemons are naturally acidic but when they go through our digestive tract, they actually help alkalize the body. Lemons also thin out our mucous glands which give the body a chance to rid out any invaders. Lemons also help cleanse the liver and stimulate the immune system with vitamin C. Honey kills the bad bacteria in our sinus glands that cause sinus infections. Cayenne pepper helps cleanse the sinus glands out and spike up the immune system and has a high dosage of vitamin C. Garlic as you already know from reading earlier, helps stimulate the immune system and has other benefits.