A strong immune system is the best defense against the cold and flu.

The coming cold and flu season is only one of the many reasons that immune function should always be at the top of your list of health priorities. The immune system doesn’t just keep colds and flus away — it is also the body’s best defense against any disease. Normal functioning of the immune system is critical to our health and resistance to infection. A healthy body will have innate resistance to many bacteria and viruses – such as the cold and flu viruses; and if infection occurs, symptoms will be mild, and can be fought off successfully in a short period of time. Your daily habits – including the foods you eat, exercise, sleep routines, environmental toxins, and emotional stress, have a significant effect on your immune function and can conspire to weaken immunity. Additionally, immune support herbs – such as echinacea and astragalus – act to stimulate or modulate the immune system.