In order to boost your immunity and to help your body fight off potential infection, you may think that you need to stock your cupboards full of expensive dietary supplements and vitamins, however, boosting your immune system may actually be simpler than you think.
Though some supplements can be a great way to supply your body with some of the natural vitamins and minerals that may be lacking from your diet, boosting your immunity comes from a range of healthy lifestyle choices, not from a bottle.
Our bodies are hard-working complex machines that operate as an entire system, not as a single being. Just like any other system on Earth, the human body requires balance and harmony in order to function effectively as a whole. This is the same for our immune systems, which is why taking supplements and vitamins may not result in the desired effects.
In order to maintain a strong immune system, it is essential to maintain a completely healthy lifestyle. Each healthy choice we make for our bodies contributes to our overall well-being and promotes healthy immune function. In saying that, there is more to living a healthy lifestyle than just diet and exercise. So with this said, here are our 8 tips to boost your immunity…
Have you ever heard the expression “You are what you eat?” Well, there may actually be more truth to that than we realise. The human body relies on nourishment which is provided by what we eat. In order to function adequately, we require a certain amount of vitamins and minerals each day which are provided by our diet, and missing out on these essentials can lead to deficiencies and lower immune defense. Therefore, a healthy body and strong immune system rely on a healthy diet.
Provide your body with plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoid processed foods as much as possible, as they provide very little beneficial nourishment. Healthy eating is also the most effective way to achieve weight loss as well, which brings us to the next point…
Exercise and physical activity have a wide range of overall health benefits, including cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, controlling your weight, good blood circulation, and protecting against disease and infection.
Further building on the points made above, maintaining the overall health of your body is pivotal to maintaining the strength of your immune system, and regular exercise is an essential piece of this puzzle.
Staying properly hydrated plays many important roles in your body, but one of the most important roles is to provide fluid for your circulatory system. The lymph system carries immune cells around the body which aid in fighting off infection. Being dehydrated can impede the performance of the lymph system, which can lead to running down your immunity.
Health experts recommend drinking at least 2-3 litres of water every day in order to replace what we lose through sweat, digestion, urination, and breathing (yes, you even lose moisture through your breath!)
Remaining hydrated will keep your lymph system flowing adequately and continue to pump those disease-fighting immune cells around the body.
Smoking is one of the worst things to do for your health. Smoking can lead to a wide range of health problems, including but not limited to high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, weakened aorta, respiratory issues, a number of cancers, and even premature death.
This one’s a no-brainer. If you’re a smoker (even just a ‘social smoker’), it’s time to quit.
Similar to smoking, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a number of health problems, including increased risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver damage, and cancer.
The good news is that alcohol can play a safe role in a healthy lifestyle, as long as it’s consumed in moderation and coupled with other healthy lifestyle habits such as good exercise.
Always drink in moderation and avoid allowing alcohol consumption to become a regular activity.
The use of harsh toxic chemical cleaning products can compromise your immune system. During use, nasty chemical vapours can be inhaled, which can be detrimental to your health for many reasons. Moreover, even after use, most household cleaning and laundry products can leave behind nasty chemical residues that can affect the respiratory system once touched.
Avoid potentially harming your health by making the switch to gentler plant-based cleaning products such as Tri Nature’s range. It’s also a better choice for your children and pets!
The best way to avoid exposing your immune system to infectious germs and bacteria is to practice good personal hygiene. This is especially important right now during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep yourself safe from infection by washing your hands frequently, and well. Avoid contact with others who are ill, don’t share eating or drinking utensils, and keep all cuts and open wounds clean and bandaged securely.
Stress is different for everyone. What causes stress for one person may not for another, so it can be difficult to define, however, stress is proven to have many negative effects on the human body, particularly long-term or chronic stress.
During periods of stress, your body reacts by creating a stress response, which suppresses your immune system. This, in turn, increases your chances of infection or illness. Over an extended period of time the continual cycle of being stressed and run down increases this risk more and more.
It’s important to learn to identify what triggers stress in your life, and also how to reduce and control it in a healthy way. As stress is different for everyone, so too will be the ways to counteract it.
Our bodies restore themselves during sleep. It’s also when all of those important infection-fighting cells are developed too.
Research shows that those who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to illness and have an increased chance of contracting viral infections such as the common cold.
Allowing your body to adequately rest and restore itself supports your immune system and promotes your overall health and well-being. It also reduces stress and irritability, making you feel happier overall.
So there you have it. Following these healthy suggestions is the best way to maintain a strong immune system and avoid becoming sick.
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