I couldn't help but use the quote "the best offense is a good defense". We could even turn it around and use Vince Lombardi's version, "the best defense is a good offense". Which actually might be more appropriate. 

During times of stress our body is bombarded with external and internal forces that cause our system to create adaptation. For example, if it is cold outside and we are still dressed in our summer garb, our body starts to increase it's own natural body heat to try to keep us warm against the elements.  That may be okay for a quick dash to the heated car but if we are left outside for an extended period of time it creates a stress on our system that weakens it and therefore leaves us more suceptible to other stressors. During the fall we spend more time indoors which can diminish out vitamin D levels and expose us to more germs, our schedules become more hectic with all the holidays, which also create more emotional stress as well as financial stress. We can also be less active and tend to eat more fat containing comfort foods. During the holidays we also tend to over eat and drink more alcoholic beverages than other times of the year due to parties and gatherings. Many of us travel during the holidays to visit family. Flying can be an extremely stressful event - preparing, packing, standing in long holiday lines at the airport, delays and then, of course, being contained in a "flying tube in the air" with, goodness only knows, how many other people and whatever illness they brought with them! 

Okay, so you get the picture... So how can we build our defense system - the immune system, to be at the top of it's game amidst so many different stressors. 

There is one particular product that I really love for building the immune system and it can be taken for several months at a time without fear of diminishing our own systems defense. 

The product is Immunitone Plus®.  It contains Goldenseal Root, Green Tea, Astragalus, Reishi mushroom, Monolaurin (Lauric acid), Beta 1,3 Glucan, Elderberry, Andrographis, Larch Tree, and Cordyceps and Shitake mushrooms.  It is a great defense against bacterial assaults on the body as well as viral. 

A number of immunomodulatory effects have been attributed to the medicinal plants Echinacea augustifolia and Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).  Scientific studies suggest that the medicinal plants of Echinacea and Goldenseal may enhance immune function by increasing antigen-specific immunoglobulin production. 

Green tea has been used for anti-tumor effects as well as cellular immune function adn the inhibition of tumor growth. The natural killer cell's activiity of a treated group was raised from 10.7% of the control group to 41%. 

Astragalus extract improved the memory, raised SOD activity in brain and liver, decreased the Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver and kidne, decreased the creatinine level in blood, and promoted the activity of NK cells. 

Another great product to keep Vitamin D levels up in fall and winter months is Emulsi D. In a single drop it delivers 2,000 i.u. of Vitamin D.