4 Ways to Boost Your Immunity
Introduction
Every day, we’re bombarded with organisms that enter our bodies through various ways: inhalation, swallowing, skin cells, or mucous membranes.
What these organisms can do once inside our bodies depends on how strong our immune system is. When our immune system works as it should, we don’t even realize we have foreign organisms in our body.
But if the immune system is too weak or too strong, we could get anything from a cold that lasts a week to severe diseases and infections that can kill us.
But the problem is that the safety of our health depends on a whole system, not just one thing. Our bodies are protected from bacteria and viruses by a vast network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together in sync.
Immune cells come from bone marrow and learn to differentiate between “self” and “non-self” cells early in life. “Self” cells are your own, and “non-self” cells are bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
4 Ways to Boost Your Immunity
The immune system is fantastic because it is constantly changing to keep up with new strains of bacteria and viruses. You can strengthen it by following these easy tips:
Get enough sleep
Sleep is vital for more than just rest but also for your overall health and well-being. It is essential to know that the amount of sleep you need can vary, but generally, the recommended amount is 7-9 hours. One way to ensure that you get the rest that you need is to make sure you get enough sleep.
The best way to get enough sleep is to ensure you stay on a schedule. If you can set a regular time to go to bed and wake up, you can ensure that you get the sleep you need. If you need more, you can schedule more sleep time. You could also try a natural remedy, such as meditation.
Manage stress.
Stress is a significant factor in our lives. It can come from a busy lifestyle to tough finances and relationships. When it’s high, it can even affect your immunity.
To boost your immune system, you must first understand how stress affects its functions. Stress weakens the immune system and can even lead to illness.
One way to boost your immunity is to manage your stress. You can do this in many ways, including through breathing exercises, meditation, and spending time outside. However, the most important thing is to do what works for you.
Exercise regularly.
Exercise is one of the most important things you can do when it comes to maintaining a healthy immune system. If you are looking for ways to boost your immune system, it is crucial that you exercise regularly.
When you exercise, you increase your heart rate, improving your circulation and oxygen intake. Your body goes through a ” metabolic conditioning process,” which means it can better defend itself against illness and disease.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
Many foods and drinks help your immune system by giving your body the antioxidants, minerals, and nutrients it needs to fight free radicals. Here are a few examples:
- Oranges. Oranges are packed with vitamin C, an essential nutrient for preventing infections and boosting the immune system. Other citrus fruits packed with vitamin C are tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, and limes.
- Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is known for its probiotics which fight off infections and prevent the common cold.
- Tomatoes. Along with a high concentration of vitamin C, an antioxidant that plays a major role in bolstering t-cells and phagocytes – 2 main components of the immune system. Tomatoes are also rich in other minerals and antioxidants, which all work at strengthening the immune system.
- Red peppers. Red peppers have twice as much vitamin C as citrus fruits and beta carotenes, which help your immune cells work better and protect you from getting sick. In 2013, Harvard researchers found that getting 200 milligrams of vitamin C daily can cut the chance of getting a cold in half. It also cut the time that people had symptoms by 8% in adults and 14% in kids.
- Broccoli. Packed with vitamins (C, A, and E) and other antioxidants and fiber, broccoli keeps you healthy from the inside out. It also contains the chemical sulforaphane, which boosts immune cells to help fight free radicals in the body.
- Green Tea. Green tea is known for its powerful effects against bacteria and inflammation. It also has flavonoids, an antioxidant known to boost the immune system and fight viruses. It also has catechin, an antioxidant that can kill viruses and bacteria.
- Spinach. Spinach is good for your health overall. It contains fiber, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. Spinach is also rich in selenium, which has a powerful effect on the immune system.
- Eggs. Eggs contain high amounts of vitamin D, which boosts the immune system. Eggs are also rich in iron, zinc, vitamin E, and folate – all help prevent inflammations and kill off germs.
- Garlic. For centuries, garlic has proven to be one of the best immune boosters. It contains a sulphuric compound known as allicin which fights off bacteria and infection.
- Tuna. Tuna is filled with zinc, a nutrient that revs the immune system and helps prevent and treat infections. Zinc also reduces the symptoms of inflammations and shortens the amount of time of sickness.
- Honey. It’s sweet and delicious and is a wonderful replacement for sugar in foods like deserts, yogurt, and drinks. It is rich in antibacterial properties, prevents diseases, and kills off germs in the body. It also helps relieve various symptoms.
Conclusion
It’s essential to try to stay as healthy as possible. We know that this can be challenging for many of us who are busy, but there are small things you can do to help boost your health and immunity. The above tips are by no means secrets. Sometimes we forget and need some reminding. Hopefully, we achieved that here.
