A strong immune system is your first line of defense against allergies, colds, flu and other illnesses. There are many disease causing viruses and bacteria that invade our systems each day. Having a strong immune system can reduce your chances of becoming ill. There are many ways that you can reduce your risk of catching diseases, including washing your hands well and often, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. There are also many herbal infusions and foods that can also help to boost your immune system.



Your mother's chicken soup cure was right on the money. Make your own by boiling the chicken and seasoning it well to make your own stock. Add fresh vegetables and fresh herbs, such as basil or tarragon, for a soothing, mild flavor. Tip: Basil can be really easy to grow in a garden pot on your back porch!

To make your own soup to strengthen your immune system, follow these guidelines.

For each person you are serving add this per person:

Chop at least one half an onion.

Chop or slice at least two cloves of garlic.

Sauté these well in olive oil until the onions are soft and translucent.

Add chopped fresh vegetables, whatever is in season is fine, or try these

Yellow Squash

Zucchini

Bell Pepper (red, green, yellow or orange)

Broccoli

Green beans

Corn

You can try any one or all of them together.

Also add a lot of seaweed, mushrooms and tonic roots. Add sea salt for flavor.

Use seasonings such as:

Tarragon

Basil

Oregano

Make your own vegetable stock by cooking the vegetables and seasonings in a pot of water. Alternatively, you can purchase vegetable stock or vegetable broth; just make sure that you get the low sodium kind.

Add your onions to your vegetables and seasonings, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour. You can also add a little cooking sherry or white wine for a mild flavor. After your soup simmers, remove it from the heat and let it sit overnight in a cool place. This is called "mellowing." The next day you can serve the soup with hard, crusty bread.

Seaweed is very beneficial for removing radiation and heavy metals from the body's tissues. Mushrooms are great for strengthening the immune system. They also work to prevent cancer. Shitake mushrooms are most widely recognized for their medicinal properties and helping to prevent disease and cancer, but other mushrooms, including the button kind, work great too. Try different kinds of mushrooms, including Portobello's, porcinni or others.

Tonic roots, such as ginseng, dandelion, chicory, astragalus, burdock and yellow dock, help the liver, lymphatic system and the kidneys work efficiently. These are the organs that protect us from infection and by feeding them nutrients that optimize their capacity to do their jobs, you are protecting yourself from infection.

Seasoning herbs such as thyme, oregano, rosemary, basil, sage and marjoram are rich in antioxidants. Use them to season your soup as well as your favorite foods.

You can do a lot to prevent infection and illness, just remember that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we will become ill. In such cases, remember hydration and a healthy diet. This will help you heal faster.