Giving your immunity a boost

Your immunity system is a rather complex system. On the one hand, it must be powerful enough to combat a wide range of illnesses and pathogens. On the other, it should not be too powerful such that it overreacts or acts up unnecessarily, leading to allergies and other autoimmune disorders. Your immune system is also closely regulated by a number of stimuli in order to function in such a delicate equilibrium.

If you take a trip down to the grocery store, you will find tons of products claiming to be immunity boosters. But the truth is, the task to improve your immunity system is not an easy one. It is actually much harder to accomplish than you might think. Here are some tips you could use to boost your immunity system.

1. Eat healthy

As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. What you choose to eat will affect your immune system. Eating nourishing foods can help your immune system fight off illness. Eat vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats.

In addition, certain vitamins are associated with an improved immune system.

• Vitamin B6: found in chicken, salmon, tuna, bananas, green vegetables, and potatoes (with the skin)
• Vitamin C: found in citrus fruit, including oranges and strawberries, as well as tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach
• Vitamin E: found in almonds, sunflower and safflower oil, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, and spinach

2. Take a chill pill

It’s important to consider how stress impacts your body, and the effect it has on your immune system. When your body is under stress, particularly chronic stress that is frequent and long-lasting, it reacts by triggering a stress response. As a result of this stress response, your immune system is suppressed, raising your risk of infection or disease.

Everyone’s stress levels and coping mechanisms are unique. It’s important to understand how to cope with stress because of the negative impact it can have on your wellbeing. You can also become acquainted with the exercises that help you refocus, whether it’s deep breathing, meditation, prayer, or exercise.

3. Get fit

We often think about exercise as a means to keep weight under control or to avoid chronic diseases like heart failure and high blood pressure. However, exercise can help with overall wellbeing, like a strong immune system. Exercise will improve blood supply, allowing the immune system’s cells and compounds to circulate easily around your body and do their job effectively.

The Bottom-line

While there are many supplements that claim to improve your immune system, these natural methods and lifestyle changes are more reliable ways in which you could boost your immune system!