Immunity – Lifestyle Changes to Strengthen Your Immune System

Our immune system is responsible for warding off germs and viruses from entering our body and protecting it against diseases. 

Nutrition and other lifestyle measures influence the susceptibility to infectious diseases and our immune strength. 

Our busy lifestyles have taken a toll on our health in general and now in particular. So perhaps now is the time to take a step back and re-think and make a few conscious changes that will prove to be beneficial in the long run in boosting our immune system. 

The first line of defense is choosing to live a healthy lifestyle.

Discussed below are a few healthy living strategies that you can implement to achieve an optimal level of health. 

Diet– Eating a low fat, plant-based diet is key to a strong immune system. Limiting dietary fat helps strengthen immune defenses. 

Maintaining a healthy weight also benefits the immune system. Plant based diets are extremely effective i. weight loss, as they are high in fiber, which fills you up without adding the extra calories.Our gut is the center of our health. Maintaining a healthier gut keeps your immune system healthy. 

Beta-Carotene– A powerful antioxidant that increases disease-fighting cells in the body, thereby boosting the immune function. 

Sources: Carrots, green leafy vegetables and sweet potato. 

Vitamin D– Reduces the risk of viral infections, including respiratory tract infections. 

Sources: Sun rays, Plant based milks( like almond milk, soya milk) and supplements. 

Vitamin C and E– Powerful antioxidants that help destroy free radicals and aid the body’s natural immune response. 

Sources: Strawberries, oranges mangoes, broccoli, lemons, red peppers, nuts, seeds and spinach. 

Zinc– Boosts white blood cells in the body 

Sources: Pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds, beans and lentils. 

Sleep– Sleep deprivation or insufficient sleep affects our immune function and increases the likelihood of falling sick. 

Cytokines (a protein) is released by the immune system, when the body is in sleep mode. This protein fights infection and its production needs to be high when you are affected by the virus. 

Lack of sleep reduces the production of cytokines. A minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep is recommended to maintain optimum health. 

Stress- Chronic stress can impact your physical and mental health negatively. 

When stressed, your body products cortisol (a hormone released to curb stress). Cortisol causes aging and abdominal fat. High levels of cortisol in the body impairs immune health and makes the body attack itself. 

Age- Aging weakens the immune system. As we age the production of new cells slows down and our body cells become weaker. Hence, older people fall sick easily and take longer to heal. 

To make the process of aging a pleasant experience, one must eat healthy, do regular exercise, quit smoking and drinking, follow regular sleeping practices and avoid stress. 

Medical Conditions- Pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, joint problems, heart conditions, greatly reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. Your immune system is already busy dealing with these and so to now fight a new virus will be more stressful for the system. 

Smoking- Smoking greatly reduces your body’s immune response to the extent that your body stops responding to new invasions and this can be disastrous. 

Tobacco damages practically every cell and system in your body, and it is extremely difficult to deal with even simple illnesses that are no big deal for most individuals.

Follow these tips and boost your immune system.

These tips are shared by Ma Earth Botanicals; a company committed to nature-inspired wellness. They combine timeless natural remedies with signature Aromatherapy to balance your body’s earth, wind, fire, water, and ether.

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