Getting sick sucks, and it seems like the word immunity has been thrown around a lot lately. During the health uncertainties we are all facing today, there has been an increasing amount of quick solutions to help strengthen your immune system. Supplements are an obvious one, but some are as absurd as wearing “anti- virus activewear”. Yup. That’s a real one folks.
The fact that Your body has the ability to heal itself is incredible. Unfortunately, there isn’t any quick fix to your immune system. You need to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly to maintain your health.
4 ways to lend your immune system a helping hand
1. Get enough sleep.
Sleep is an important part of our daily routine. We need to get enough rest to function properly. We also need to eat healthy foods to stay energized. Exercise helps us maintain a healthy body and mind.
Sleep Revolution is an amazing book written by Arianna Huffington. She talks about how our society has normalised sleeping as being lazy or time wasting.
She explains that we need to change our minds about sleep before we can change our habits. There is a reason sleep is the first one off the bat, sleep is healing and gives every part of your body and mind a recharge, including your immune system.
2. Eat healthy foods.
Your immune system needs vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to work properly. Whole plant foods are needed to feed your immune system. Broccoli, spinach, oranges and nuts are healthy foods that help boost your immune system.
Healthy fats include olive oil and salmon. Antioxidants include berries, colourful produce and cloves. Spices include cinnamon. These are healthy nutrients that help clean up the body.
When you go to war, there are always casualties. Your body goes through a series inflammation process to protect you from viruses and bacteria. Sometimes these inflammations last longer than necessary. This is the bad part.
You may ask, what is inflammation?
Well, have you ever twisted your ankle and watched it swell up like a grapefruit? This also happens inside our bodies, it can happen to our arteries (can lead to heart disease), our gut (belly pains, cramps, bloating), our joints (can lead to arthritis), and this is just to name a few. Spices like Turmeric, Black pepper, Garlic, Ginger, Cayenne and Cloves are all known for their anti-inflammatory properties and help to naturally regulate inflammation, while also adding all those delicious flavours to our food.
Remember when I spoke about the immune system being a system that requires balance to function? This is just one example.
3. Stay away from stress.
Stress makes you sick. Your mind and body need to be in sync. You need to believe in yourself and your abilities. You need to be confident in your skills.
A ritual of healthy living helps people cope with stress. Scheduled workouts, yoga, eating right, and quality time with friends help people feel better about themselves.
4. Do not be sedentary.
Exercise is a no-brainer. Better circulation helps the immune system work better by allowing it to process more freely and effectively. A 30-minute walk every day is enough to do this.
