Ooof. We don’t know about you, but around this time, in the middle of winter, we all start to feel a bit blah. We’re run down from the past few months of intense socialisation, and the lack of sunlight and the fact that we’re all constantly cramped inside with a zillion other people mean just one thing: an assault on our immune systems. But while it would be easy enough to succumb to feeling under the weather, cosying up inside for that first sick day of the year, we have a better idea. What if you could save those precious days off for good weather, for days when you have too many fun things on your agenda to possibly tick off?

Are you with us? Good. So, instead of trying to battle illness once it’s taken hold of us, we propose bolstering our immune systems from the get-go. After all, a good offense is the best defence.

And since you can’t control the seasons, you can control your response to them. You can support your immune system from the inside out so that even though the temperatures might be dropping, your immune system will stay up to snuff. If you keep these powerhouse immune-boosting ingredients on hand you’ll keep yourself healthy all winter.

Vitamin C

Ah, good old vitamin C. Turns out your mom was right, after all! Vitamin C is truly the king of immune-supportive ingredients, so it’s no wonder it’s been a go-to for centuries. Even though we might not know it, many of us actually have low levels of vitamin C in our blood, so it’s essential we increase the levels in order to support healthy immune function. When we have the proper amount of vitamin C, it accumulates in certain immune cells that function as the body’s defensive team. How are you gonna get enough? Reach for tomatoes, citrus, broccoli and melon, or go for a supplement. The Reset, The Mexican Burrito Salad and The Cup of Youth are all excellent options to boost that immune system.

Zinc

While just about everybody knows vitamin C helps when you’re ill, not so many of us know that zinc is actually one of the real superhero immune minerals. It’s incredibly important for supporting healthy immune function, so it’s key to get about 10 milligrams a day to keep healthy. Though it’s mostly found in animal products, you can easily get tons of it from nuts, legumes and dark chocolate. Who said staying healthy wasn’t delicious? Try The Sh*t or the Cauliflower, Lima Bean, Paprika & Red Quinoa Soup for your daily dose.

Echinacea

This is another traditional cold and flu standby and for good reason. This phytonutrient-rich herb is incredibly potent and ideal for helping to keep the gears running smoothly on our immune systems. While you could take the old-school route and brew it into a tea, the easiest way to get your fill is with some Echinacea capsules. As long as you’re taking these, you should be as healthy as can be.

Dark Berries

And last but not least (and possibly most delicious!) are dark, colourful berries like blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. In addition to being nature’s candy, these berries are high in anthocyanins, a flavonoid that is very immune-supportive. The Berry Beauty Bowl is a no-brainer if you’re trying to up your anthocyanins, as is the Sprouted Buckwheat Granola.

So stock up on these immune superheroes, and you will be as prepared for battle as possible. Winter cold and flu begone!