In today's modern culture, we have many external toxins that our bodies must deal with. They are in the food we eat in the form of pesticides and chemical additives used for longer shelf life. Toxins are in the air that we breathe from cars and factories.

In addition, our lives are full of stress and excitement which creates internal chemicals that can turn into toxins when excessive. All of these factors can contribute to weakening our immunity.

Fortunately in addition to diet, there are immune building supplements that we can add that are taken from whole food sources. These types of supplements and their nutrients are readily available for your body to use. Here are some important ones to help you strengthen your immune system.

Folate is essential for maintenance and repair of cells, and the manufacturing of white blood cells, which are your immune cells. It also protects against heart disease and helps prevent damage to blood vessels and brain cells.

Found in dark leafy greens, this nutrient can be found in its whole food form in a "green superfood." There are a variety of these in your local market.

These supplements are usually in a powder form that you can dissolve in water and include high nutrient ingredients like spirulina, blue-green algae, chorella, barley grass and wheat grass.

Vitamin C stimulates the production of gamma interferon, a protein that assists in manufacturing white blood cells. In addition vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant.

Whole food supplements that include Vitamin C may have ingredients such as acerola cherry. Another whole food source for Vitamin C is dried, powdered fruit juice capsules. You can also get your vitamin C from whole fresh-made fruit juices. Synthetic C will not have the same effect.

Garlic stimulates immune cell activity and production. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Add plenty to the foods you cook, add a clove to your fresh-made veggie juice or find whole source capsules.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are an essential addition to immune building supplements. They help stimulate and protect the immune system. They are anti-inflammatory and help prevent auto-immune disorders. They are important in the growth and maintenance of healthy cells.

Get extra EFA's into your diet by adding olive oil or coconut oil to prepare your foods. You can find the supplement in liquid form in the refrigerated section of a health food market. Look for a blend of oils such as flax seed oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, walnut oil, fish oils, grapeseed oil and sesame oil.

Probiotics are an important for part of your immune building program. These are the good bacteria found in the small and large intestine.

These healthy organisms stimulate the immune system, increase antibodies, and inhibit the absorption of pathogenic organisms such as e.coli and salmonella.

Probiotics are extremely beneficial and add to your bodies' natural production while maintaining or beginning a health program. You can find these beneficial supplements in the refrigerated section of your local health food store.

Strengthen your immune system this year and don't get bit by the bug. Help your body and have a healthy and happy holiday season.