HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
To build strong immunity in your body is an incredible investment in your future. It helps prevent you from getting sick with something like the common cold, and if you get sick, then it will assist you to fight your illness and recover quicker. There are several things that you can do to ensure that your immune system is on top of its game at all times.
1. LOWER YOUR STRESS LEVELS
Ongoing stress raises your cortisone levels and can cause permanent damage to your body, weakening your immune response. If you are living in a bad marriage, are miserable at your job, or live in a very toxic environment with crime, air, and noise pollution, consider your options to leave or move and even look at ways to minimize the effect of this type of stress has on you.
Help your stress levels by using relaxation methods like meditation. Do this daily. Also, look at taking care of a small pet which has shown to have many benefits. Listen to relaxing music that will calm your mind and try to surround yourself with beautiful things that you love.
2. SPEND TIME OUTDOORS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Over the years, they have done extensive research on the wonderful influence Vitamin D has on our immune system. Vitamin D can act in an autocrine manner in a local immunologic setting. One can take Vitamin D supplements, however, it would be better to get it from the food we eat, like eggs or sardines.
That said, the cheapest and most efficient source is directly from the sun. If you can spend about ten to fifteen minutes three or four times a week in the midday sun, you will have a well-filled Vitamin D tank. Spending time outside will also help to lower your stress levels.
3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Not only should you get enough sleep but also ensure that you get good quality sleep without interruptions. It is vital to sleep for a long enough period every night so you can go through all the various sleep stages, many which are restorative.
Whilst sleeping, our body can use its energy and proteins called cytokines to work on repairing or fighting anything that needs correcting. Studies have shown that not getting the required amount of sleep negatively affects your immune system, and it will take you longer to recover if you get sick with anything.
4. BIOHACKING YOUR WAY TO BETTER IMMUNITY
Research by Valter Longo of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, has shown that fasting for 72 hours or more, recycles a lot of damaged immune cells that no longer work properly, and replaces them with younger and more helpful cells. This is a cost-effective and natural way to reset your immune system and give your body the boost it needs.
5. MANAGE WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR BODY
Too much alcohol, drugs, smoking, and lots of food with no nutritional value does not help your body. Quite the opposite. Each time we put something into our system that is not good for it, it results in prolonged inflammation. This causes white blood cells to fall for a few hours weakening the immune system. When your immune system drops, it will make you more susceptible to catching a cold or you will take longer to fight off a current infection.
Last, know the signs of a weakened immune system so you can work on it. You can get a blood test to find out if you have normal levels of infection-fighting proteins in your cells. Alternatively, if you are always sick, feel tired, or have slow healing wounds, it may be time to implement some of the methods mentioned in this article.