Living through a pandemic has taught us all the importance of maintaining a strong immune system. From the common cold and infections to life-threatening viruses, your immune system is your first line of defense against becoming ill. When your immune system is weakened, your body is unable to fight against foreign invaders and run efficiently.
A healthy lifestyle is one of the most obvious ways to keep your immune system strong, so some of these tips may seem obvious. However, even the smallest changes to your routine can help you to strengthen your immunity and protect you and your family from devastating illness or loss.
When you feed your body with the right nutrients, rest and exercise, you help your immune system to keep you safe. Adding the right foods and dietary supplements you can find when you view steelsupplements.com can help you to keep your natural defenses strong. Let’s look at a few ways to naturally boost your immune system.
1. Supportive Diet
Your immune system needs to be supported and nourished with the right vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants to perform efficiently. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can help increase your intake of these powerful ingredients.
Generally speaking, the brighter and deeper the color of a vegetable means that it is richer in antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and antibacterial agents. Feeding your body with the right fuel can result in your immune system remaining stress-free and able to fight off any foreign bacteria or viruses.
2. Sleep
Most of the regeneration that happens in your body is completed during your sleep cycle. When you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body is essentially running on an empty tank putting additional stress on your immune system.
An immune system that is overworked or overtired will not have the ability to target infected cells in your body and result in a higher likelihood of getting ill. To maintain a strong immune system, you need to get at least seven hours of sleep per night.
3. Hydrate
Staying properly hydrated is essential for all parts of your body. Healthy immune systems rely on proper hydration to help to flush out your system of unwanted allergens, toxins, and bacteria. Adults should try to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. It can be a challenge to stay properly hydrated if you find plain water boring. Try dressing it up with a low-calorie flavor packet or natural fruits like blueberries or lemons.
4. Sanitize
Bacteria and viruses can stay on surfaces for many hours. To keep you and your family safe, it’s essential to keep your home clean and sanitized. Your kitchen is especially vulnerable since it is one of the highest traffic areas in your home. Wiping your counters, faucets, and handles daily with antibacterial soap or a Lysol wipe can help reduce your chances of infection. Other high-traffic areas in your home should also be cleaned, including your door handles, remote controls, and bathroom faucets.
5. Personal Hygiene
While it’s important to keep your home sanitized, it’s just as critical to maintaining your personal hygiene to help boost your immune system. After you visit the bathroom or are cooking in the kitchen, you need to wash your hands. Proper handwashing means that you use hot water and soak and vigorously clean your hands and nails for at least twenty seconds.
If you are in contact with others or are touching other objects outside of your home, like when you go to the grocery store, it’s a good idea to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer until you can get home and properly clean your hands.
6. Stress Management
When you are under high levels of stress, your cortisol levels can become elevated. This means that your immune system will struggle to operate efficiently. Managing your stress can not only help to boost your immune system but also improve your quality of life. Taking time to pay attention to your self-care routine can help to bring down your stress levels. Try meditative breathing, treat yourself to a massage, or spend time with friends and family that bring you joy.
7. Exercise
Regular exercise can keep your whole body healthy and running efficiently. Moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood can help to flush your lymphatic system, regulate your cortisol levels and improve your circulation. Getting out into the fresh air for a brisk walk can help to elevate your mood, improve your sleep and keep your immune system strong.
8. Avoid Alcohol
The odd glass of wine with a delicious dinner is not going to harm your immune system. However, regular consumption of alcohol can make it harder for your system to fight off illness. Alcohol can hamper the immune system leaving you more susceptible to infection and viruses. Keep your alcohol intake to a minimum to help boost your immune system.
9. Probiotics
Having a healthy gut can help to boost your immune system. When your digestive system is struggling to process food, it can put a strain on your immune system. Adding probiotics through supplements or natural foods like yogurt or sauerkraut you are adding healthy bacteria to your system that will effectively break down the nutrients in your diet. When the systems of your body are running properly, it relieves the strain on your immune system.
10. Get Your Shot
Flu season is just around the corner, and for the young and older members of the population, it’s essential to get vaccinated. Your annual flu vaccine can help to boost your immune system and protect you from dozens of strains of the flu that can be dangerous. The flu vaccine will equip your body with the right antibodies to fight off an infection or virus before your immune system is put under strain.
Protecting your immune system is just as important as wearing your seatbelt when you get in the car. Your immunity can be compromised when you aren’t living a healthy lifestyle, putting strain on the other systems of your body. By following these tips, including eating more colorful vegetables, getting more sleep, sanitizing your home and body, and adding moderate exercise to your routine, you can boost your immune system and stay healthy.
