Boost the Immune System – The immune system is our body’s most important defense against diseases, and is essential for prevention, protection, and a balanced life overall. And while it’s true that even the healthiest of people have a tendency to get ill every once in a while, there’s no denying that a healthy and strong immune system is the key to efficiently fighting off bacteria, viruses, infections, and other illnesses. And thankfully, just by making a few simple changes to our daily routines, we can ensure a stronger and more resilient immunity that will keep us healthy all year long.
To that end, here are some natural ways you might be able to boost your immune system, and improve your overall health and well-being:
Eat a more balanced diet
A balanced and nutritious diet is the key to living a healthy and happy life. However, if you want your daily meals to support your immune system even further, you could also focus on more immunity-boosting ingredients. For instance, the antioxidants present in most fruits and vegetables, the vitamin C found in citrus fruits and bell peppers, healthy fats like those available in fatty fish, vitamin E present in almonds and sunflower seeds, as well as other beneficial ingredients like garlic and ginger, are all wonderful nutrients that will help your body function optimally, and improve your immune response.
Consider including supplements
In case you can’t get enough of beneficial, immunity-boosting nutrients through your diet, you might also want to consider taking vitamin C, E, and B6 supplements in consultation with your doctor, in an effort to improve your immune system. It is often believed that even herbs such as elderberry, echinacea, andrographis, and astragalus might also help in fighting off colds, viruses, and infections, although scientific proof of their efficiency is quite limited, and should always be taken with caution.
Make exercise a regular habit
Apart from numerous health and wellness benefits, regular exercise has also been proven to strengthen the immune system by mobilizing the white blood cells that are directly responsible for fighting viruses and infections. Regular physical activity has also been known to improve muscle and bone strength, while decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, making it an incredibly beneficial practice overall. To that end, it would be advised to perform at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise a day, whether that means jogging, brisk walking, swimming, or even doing more strenuous chores like mowing the lawn.
Invest in your intimacy
Health experts have often reported that sexually active individuals tend to have higher levels of antibodies that protect them from viruses and other illnesses, and thus have a lower tendency to take sick days off school or work. Considering this fact, it seems that working on your intimate life might be another natural way to improve your immune system, and invest in a healthier and happier life. For that reason, it would be a good idea to incorporate some exciting adult toys into your regular routine, in an effort to reap the numerous benefits of a sexually active life.
Let go of damaging habits
While moderate alcohol consumption, such as an occasional glass of red wine, might have some health benefits, an increased intake of alcohol can actually be quite detrimental to your overall health, including negative effects on the immune system. Similarly, smoking cigarettes has also been known to reduce the efficiency of the immune system, apart from leading to other serious health issues, such as an increased risk of cancer. With these facts in mind, it would be recommended to completely stop practicing any of these harmful habits, or at least to moderate your consumption, in order to live a healthier and more balanced life overall.
Aim to reduce your stress levels
Stress causes our body to release a hormone called cortisol, which affects the manner in which our brain receives signals from our body, while interfering with the white blood cells that are directly responsible for a strong immune system. What’s more, cortisol has also been known to disrupt our respiratory and digestive tracts, which are among the most important defenses we have against potential diseases. To that end, reducing your daily stress levels might be one of the most important things you could do for your immunity, whether that means practicing meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises, or even avoiding stressors entirely, if at all possible.
Spend more time outdoors
Being exposed to sunlight is one of the rare natural ways our bodies can produce vitamin D, a nutrient essential for producing antibodies and maintaining a strong immune system. And the good news is that even a 15-minute walk in natural light each day can allow our bodies to produce enough vitamin D in order to function optimally. However, the benefits of spending time in nature don’t stop there, as it’s been reported that people who spend more time outdoors tend to be both physically and mentally healthier than their indoor dwelling counterparts.
Get enough restful sleep
Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can have a significant impact on our immunity, leading to an increased chance of catching colds, viruses, and other respiratory infections. So, if you want to boost your immunity and prevent illnesses, getting a good 7-8 hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep each night is essential. In case you have any issues with sleeping, there are many natural remedies you could try in an effort to improve your quality of sleep, such as light exercise and relaxation techniques, as well as sleeping in completely dark rooms and avoiding distractions like books or TV and phone screens right before bedtime.
As our body’s natural defense system against illnesses and diseases, maintaining a strong and resilient immune system is absolutely essential for living a long and healthy life. And just by making a couple of beneficial changes to our daily routines, and implementing the helpful advice mentioned above, we can effortlessly improve our immunity in a natural way, and be well on our way to achieve optimal health and well-being.
