Your immune system is a defense shield that guards you against viruses, bacteria, and other threats that await you. Unfortunately, sometimes it fails at this task and leaves you exposed to all the disease-causing microorganisms.
What’s more, if you don’t take care of your immune system, the risk of getting an infection is much higher. Luckily, there are some easy ways to improve it, and you don’t need to have a doctorate of medicine to implement them.
So without any further ado, here are some useful tips to boost your immune system and keep you safe and healthy in these uncertain times we all live in.
Start With A Healthy Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet has so many benefits that it’s hard to name all of them, one of the most important being boosting your immune system and making sure it works properly. Nutrients you get from certain foods can have miraculous effects on you, and here are a few examples.
First of all, to boost your immune system, it’s essential to eat lots of vegetables and fruits, especially those rich in vitamin C, like oranges or broccoli. A good idea is also to eat one half of a garlic clove every day.
Secondly, if you want to boost your immune system, you should turn your attention to a Mediterranean diet. It means adding fatty fish, olive oil, and nuts into your meals.
The third thing to do is reduce meat intake, especially fried and processed meats, which are inflammatory.
Do these three things, add yogurts and kefirs to your diet, and keep your guts healthy. It’s one of the most effective ways to boost your immune system.
Stay Active
Staying fit and maintaining a healthy weight is crucial if you want to make sure that your immune system works correctly. And what is the best way to maintain a healthy weight? The answer is staying active.
What’s more, regular exercise lowers the risk of getting a chronic disease and bacterial infection.
Keep in mind that your exercises should be regular and not too intense. What’s more, you should workout outdoors as much as you can, especially during warmer seasons. Why? Various studies have shown that spending your time in nature reduces inflammation, lowers blood pressure, and has other health benefits.
Improve Your Lifestyle
A healthy diet and staying active are great ways to improve your immune system, but to increase their effectiveness, you also need to add a few changes to your lifestyle (if necessary).
Firstly, make sure you sleep enough. Seven to eight hours of sleep is an absolute necessity to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which will boost your immune system.
Secondly, reduce stress and anxiety. Yes, it’s easier said than done, but your mental wellbeing is directly connected to your physical health. If you feel a lot of stress, contact a specialist who will be able to help you.
You can also try some calming exercises, like meditation.
Stay Moderate With Alcohol (and Other Substances)
If you like to party a lot, this part of the article will make you a bit sad; one of the cons that come with drinking alcohol is that it decreases your immune system functions. You keep your body too busy with detoxification, and it doesn’t have time or energy to protect you from other threats.
What’s more, regular alcohol consumption can lower your system’s ability to fight infection, which also increases the time you need for recovery. That can lead to severe diseases, sometimes even cancer.
If you like to drink, try to cut on alcohol as much as possible. Limit yourself to a maximum of one drink per day, a small price for a healthier immune system.
Stay On Top Of Your Chronic Diseases (If You Have Any)
If you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or any other chronic disease, make sure you keep them under control, as they all can decrease your immune response.
Consult with your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms intensifying, take all the necessary medicines, and don’t underestimate these problems. Keep in mind that if you have such a disease, you’ve got a higher risk of catching and even dying from flu, and yes, COVID 19.
Summary
Keeping your immune system in perfect condition should be crucial for every human being. Remember that it’s your first line of defense against various infections, and if your immune response is insufficient, it may lead to more severe diseases, and sometimes even death.
That’s why you should try everything you can to boost your immune system and make it as strong as you can, especially if you suffer from chronic diseases, like asthma or diabetes.
Fortunately, making sure that your immune system works properly is not that hard. It may force you to make some sacrifices in your lifestyle, but when your health is at stake, you should do everything you can to improve it.
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