10 Tips to super-charge your immune system this winter

immune booster foods

With the change in the weather, it’s time to look after your immune system, as we seem to be more susceptible to colds and flu with the cooler temperatures.  Naturopathic medicine can offer nutritional advice, as well as supplements and herbal medicines to support the immune system to prevent infection, as well as assist when you are feeling under the weather.  There are also a multitude of things you can do to support your immune health and enjoy the winter months without battling the cough and sniffles.

The Gut-Brain Axis

One of my passions is helping people with depression and anxiety through natural medicine. There are so many options available that can help with these symptoms.  There are many contributing factors to mental health issues – including trauma, genetic factors, lifestyle, but one of the major influences that not many people are aware of is what is going on in the gut.

Natural Support For Depression

Anyone who has ever struggled with depression understands the sense of hopelessness that comes with it.  We all have days when we’re feeling a bit down, sad or not in the mood to be social. However people with depression experience these feelings constantly, for long periods of time, and sometimes without any apparent reason. 

Understanding and managing stress

Stress seems to be a challenge that most of us are faced with in our lives today.  There are so many demands on our time and energy and an expectation of the 24 hour society.  It seems to be a side-effect of modern life and can become overwhelming.  But we can learn to recognise it and manage it as it occurs.

Excessive stress affects every system in our body:  challenging the nervous system, dampening the immune system, affecting digestion, dysregulating blood sugar levels, and the list goes on.   Ongoing stress and our perception of what we think we are meant to be able to manage can also have a detrimental effect on our mental health. 

Managing Anxiety Naturally – Cathy Vanzanden, Naturopath.

Supporting mental health naturally has been a passion of mine for decades, and there are many complementary options to help manage depression and anxiety, including optimal nutrition, herbal medicine, flower essences, movement, breathing techniques and lifestyle choices.