How To Boost Your Immune System

Your immune system is one of your body’s most important parts. It protects you from having to succumb to every little illness that your body is in danger of exposure to everyday. A compromised immune system is just like charging to battle with nothing but your underpants on.

Having a boosted immune system is very important to survival. Here are a couple of tips to help you achieve just that.

Get Proper Sleep

The human body can’t function without proper sleep. It is as essential to your survival as much as eating and nourishment. Sleep is needed not only by the physical well-being, but by the mental and emotional parts as well. When you sleep, your body is in a state of “suspended animation”. During this time, it repairs every worn out cell at a faster rate, including your immune system. The more you’re well-rested, the better functioning your immune system becomes. If you only get 3 or 4 hours of sleep every day, your body will start to feel the stress and wear; its capacity to produce the necessary chemicals for proper functioning becomes diminished and your immune system’s strength is lowered.

Get Proper Nutrition and a Balanced Diet

David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., the director of the Yale Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Connecticut said, “There’s no question the immune system fundamentally is influenced by overall health-and a balanced diet is key.” The immune system is dependent on blood flow, and this is the function of the vascular system which, in turn, relies heavily on proper nutrition and balanced diet. Since the immune system is complex, there isn’t a specific magic food that will help you repel the illnesses. Instead, a balanced combination of various food groups is key to boosting your immune system’s strength:

lots of vitamins, especially A and C
amino acids found in protein that are, in turn, found primarily from lean meats and fish
reduction of trans fats and using unsaturated fats instead
antioxidants, as those found in green tea

Get Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

It is preferable that you get your vitamins and minerals from food, since the body absorbs nutrients faster from it. If, however, you can’t eat certain food for some reason, then your next best bet is getting them from supplements. There are multivitamin and mineral supplements available on the market that will adequately fill in the gap.

Get Plenty of Exercise

Exercise not only trims excess fat from your body, but it also promotes good blood circulation and, as mentioned above, the immune system depends heavily on proper blood flow. Exercise also helps you sweat out, flushing toxins from your body that may otherwise dampen the effectiveness of the immune system. Speaking of flushing out, exercise helps promote normal bowel movement, again helping flush out unwanted toxins from the body.

Reduce Stress

Studies have shown that stress affects more than your mood; it also wears out your body and weakens your immune system. After a hectic day at work or school, take the time to relax and unwind. Engage in activities that promote relaxation such as meditation or yoga. Most of all, don’t worry too much about every little thing that goes your way.

Remember that medicines can only do so much to fight off any infection that you may have. You also need a strong immune system, as it is your body’s last line of defense against pathogens. Boost your immune system and Ensure that you will live a long and healthy life.