2 Brought to you by & We all do our best to dodge germs during the dreaded cold and flu season; that’s a good thing, as fending off these pesky bugs is important. But there’s more to the story of good health than being on the defensive. Shifting your focus to proactively strengthening your immune system, rather than simply avoiding germs, not only helps keep you healthy, it benefits wellness on a larger level. “Immunity is not just a defense against sickness; it is synonymous with overall health,” says Kris Somol, ND, an adjunct faculty member at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. “By caring for your immune system, you also heal from injuries faster and prevent chronic disease.” It’s a daily practice, meant to be as easy and natural as any other part of your normal routine, and the benefits are great—namely, optimum health, all year long. Immunity research supports this focus on overall long-term health and the complexity of our immune system, too, with the recent and growing focus on how we can support the “microbiome,” the trillions of bacteria and other microbes that live in the gut and communicate with the entire body. This new research is proving that supporting the microbiome can help protect you from everything from the common cold to a myriad of more serious health issues down the road. Bonus: A healthy microbiome also may support memory, reduce stress and improve mood. More on the gut health-immunity connection to come. Similar to losing weight for your overall health, not just to fit into your skinny jeans, bolstering immunity links up with happiness, productivity and even longevity. If this whole-body approach to staying well seems like another thing to do at this very busy time of year, remember that maintaining good health is the one and only foundation absolutely necessary for doing everything else in your life well. The good news is that with our well-rounded, holistic approach (including lifestyle choices, supplements and food), the immune system, quite simply, responds and thrives, doing its absolute best to keep you well. CONTENTS What Is The Immune System And How Does It Work?................... 3 The Gut-Immunity Connection......4 Stress Less, Be Healthier.................6 Sweat It Out ......................................... 7 Supplement For Immunity...............8 Feed Your Immune System..........10 Mouthwatering Immunity- Boosting Recipes..............................13