Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when it’s protected from environmental stressors and is supported by healthy-living strategies. When your immune system is functioning properly, it either prevents you from getting sick or helps you recover from being sick. A compromised immune system on the other hand leaves you more susceptible to illness. Avoiding smoking, eating processed foods, and consuming high amounts of sugar and alcohol help keep your immune system strong by decreasing stress on your body’s detoxifying systems. Eating a diet high in vegetables, fruits, lean protein and healthy fats, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, good hygiene/washing hands and stress management strengthen your immunity. Natural herbal supplements such as Echinacea have been shown to boost your immunity and decrease recovery time. Vitamins such as vitamin C, D, and Zinc are also commonly recommended. The nervous system plays a major role in regulating all bodily systems, including the immune system.

Why Chiropractic for Immunity? 

Chiropractic improves the function of the nervous system by finding and correcting vertebral subluxations. Subluxations are areas of restriction and misalignment in the spine that put stress on the body and negatively impact proper function. Growing research supports chiropractic’s ability to keep us healthy. A study of 2,818 people receiving chiropractic treatment found the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15%. Another study revealed an increase in a specific category of white blood cells (polymorphonuclear neutrophils) in blood taken from a patient 15 minutes after a mid-back adjustment. These cells are involved in the response to sickness caused by virus or bacteria.