7 Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
To live a healthy life, your immune system needs to be functioning at optimal capacity. If you’re regularly getting sick, it’s because your body isn’t able to fight off infections as well as it should be, and that can spell disaster if you let it go on long enough. Fortunately, there are ways to strengthen your immune system so that you don’t have to worry about diseases and viruses taking over your body without notice. Here are seven ways to strengthen your immune system so that when those nasty germs show up at your doorstep, you can tell them to get lost!
1) Think Positive
Believe it or not, the greatest way to improve your Immune system is through positive thinking. In addition, if you have a tough time doing that, try coming up with a list of 10 things you are grateful for daily.
Furthermore, limit processed foods and sugars as they are known to weaken the body. You can also work on strengthening your immune system by wearing gloves while washing dishes or any other activity involving contact with germs or mold. Furthermore, keep one pound of lentils in your kitchen cupboard at all times since they have been shown to strengthen the immune system and help reduce stress levels which allow bacteria and viruses to easily attack the body. There are many ways to strengthen your Immune system, but this post only mentioned a few.
Lastly, take Vitamin C supplements every day. While it's best to get vitamin C from food sources such as oranges and strawberries; however this isn't always possible when you're eating out of convenience or hunger-especially for those who don't eat well due to lack of funds or cooking skills.
2) Engage in an Anti-inflammatory Diet
Strength begins with nourishment. A high-fat diet is believed to weaken the immune system and may be more susceptible to illness. Raw foods are more easily absorbed and processed by the body, and in turn, provide much-needed energy and nutrients that ultimately strengthens our immune system. Ensuring you drink enough water also helps keep your body hydrated which prevents sickness in the first place. Let these steps guide you towards a stronger and healthier immune system:
1) Join Weight Watchers or Atkins Diet - Membership offers helpful tools including weight goals, food trackers, counseling services for emotional support, and low-cost meals provided through weekly deliveries.
3) Get Enough Rest
Getting enough rest is one of the most important ways to strengthen your immune system. By taking care of yourself and sleeping, you'll have the strength and energy needed to fight back when you're feeling under the weather. Give yourself a break and go ahead and read that book instead of finishing up work. You deserve it! Make sure you're eating well: Good nutrition can help keep your body healthy and give you the strength you need to stay well. So while they may be less than appetizing, don't forget those leafy greens! Get Some Sun: Sunshine has been proven time and time again to be good for health--especially skin health. Vitamin D deficiency can weaken our immune systems by weakening their ability to fight off infections. So make sure you spend some time outdoors every day (preferably with sunscreen). Listen To What Your Body Needs: Sometimes we need some rest more than others do--we all get busy and stressed sometimes.
4) Don’t Stress Out
This New Year's Eve, don't forget to do your part in keeping your Immune system strong. With so many drinks and sweets being passed around, you must protect yourself against illness with these seven simple tips:
1) EAT HEALTHY- Stick with healthy snacks like apple slices, grapes, or raw veggies. They won’t leave you feeling sluggish or guilty when the party is over! 2) GET MOVING- Exercise has shown time and again that it can prevent infection, lessen the severity of colds, reduce pain from arthritis and stimulate the immune system.
5) Stay Hydrated
One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system is by drinking plenty of fluids. Dehydration can cause you to feel run down and can be a side effect of certain treatments or illnesses. Whether it's water, juice, or sports drinks, make sure you're staying hydrated throughout the day. You can also purchase different vitamin packets from your local grocery store that help improve your immune system strength. However you do it, just be sure not to overlook this important part of good health!
6) Drink Green Tea
Research has shown that Green Tea is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to stimulate your Immune system. Drinking green tea can also be part of a healthy lifestyle which includes a nutritious diet and an active lifestyle, which could also strengthen your immune system. The recommended amount of green tea per day is two cups, but you should consult with your physician before making any changes in your diet.
7) Exercise Regularly
Exercise may be one of the most effective ways of keeping a strong immune system. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, some benefits of exercise include reducing inflammation, stress, depression, and susceptibility to colds. In addition, it may help you sleep better which can further enhance your immune system strength. Try running, working out at home or in a gym with friends and family members (friends often encourage each other during hard workouts!), or participating in other cardiovascular exercises like biking or using an elliptical machine. You don't have to be an Olympic athlete--find what works for you!
