Do you have sniffles, aches and pains that just seem to linger on and on? Have you ever wondered why you feel so weak when you are sick, and tired even when you aren’t? Many of the symptoms of sickness that many of us deal with every month, or even every day for the unlucky ones are a byproduct of a weak immune system. But how does the immune system become weak?

You may have heard of the theory that input equals output. No theory could be more correct with regard to the human immune system. The immune system is the internal defense system in our bodies that wards off illness and disease caused by pathogens of all types, be it viral, bacterial, or even chemical poisons. Imagine your immune system is a top notch race horse, built for speed and efficiency. Now imagine this horse never received proper nourishment or care. Do you think it would win any races?

Perhaps you have heard and read a lot about the immune system, and how your body wards off disease and illness. If you happen to be sick right now as you read this article, you are probably wondering what went wrong. Well, just like the race horse that isn’t receiving proper care; your immune system may be incapable of mounting an effective defense because it doesn’t have the proper tools and nourishment. Tools for your immune system are not as difficult to come by as you think. Our ancestors have been surviving on hunted game and seeds and nuts they foraged for throughout the wilderness for centuries. The problem is in today’s prepackaged foods, processed flour and sugar, and fast food. None of what you have been putting in your body offers the types and amount of trace chemicals, minerals, vitamins, and compounds that your immune system thrives on. This may be why many people take supplements, because the old diet of wild vegetables and seeds as well as meat supplied our ancestors with all the antioxidants and immune boosters that they needed; while today we no longer consume the proper balanced diet that naturally supplies all the phytochemicals that the body thrives on.

So what are these “phytochemicals” and “immune boosters” and “trace minerals” that we speak of? Well, you would be pleasantly surprised to find that many of these substances are found in common fruits and vegetables. Lycopene, found in tomatoes, is a powerful antioxidant that helps rid the blood of free radicals which lead to cancer. There are some even more potent compounds that occur in green vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower known as diindolylmethane (DIM for short) that have been found through scientific research to activate the immune system and to promote proper vitality and efficiency in your immune systems ability to ward of disease. Even meats offer much more than the protein they are prized for. Meat is an excellent source of zinc. Zinc is a necessary tool your immune system needs to work properly. Some of the immune cells in your body cannot function properly without zinc. Other than zinc, meat is also a source of many trace compounds as well as highly absorbable iron, which your blood cells need to multiply and stay healthy.

If you can balance your diet to keep a proper balance of the nutrients you need to stay healthy, you will reap the enormous benefits of a powerful immune system and renewed vigor and vitality. If you are like most of us, you probably do not have the time or will to balance your lifestyle and diet; in which case, your body would benefit enormously from a quality immune supplement.

Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit benefit of colostrum transfer factor for more information.