5 easy ways to boost your immune system
Health isn’t something that some people get lucky with and others dont. For sure you can inherit good genes however, if you are frequently catching a cold or flu, it’s not just bad luck working against you but perhaps the lack of certain nutrients in your diet, insufficient sleep, the cold weather and insufficient clothing and other lifestyle factors.
All of these are contributing factors in your immune system and whether it is able to – protect your body from viruses, fungi, and bacteria. You can support your immune system with some of these ideas below.
SLEEP WELL
Remember the feeling of being hung over. Well these days I rarely drink but recognise that hung over feeling, as not enough sleep. Lack of sleep plays havoc with our body, our mood and immune system. The lack of sleep causes loss of white blood cells, which is a clear indication of a suppressed immune system. Sleep does not only influence whether or not you will come catch a cold that is going around, or pick up something from the kids but also how your body will fight it. So, make sure you get the necessary 7 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Make your bedroom a place you want to be in with nice cushions and good lighting.
Switch off your phone 30 minutes before getting into bed so you start to relax the nervous system and keep the wifi off whilst you sleep. https://eluxemagazine.com/magazine/the-schumann-resonance/
BE ACTIVE OUTDOORS
Physical activity whether it's running, walking, yoga or swimming have incredible benefits on our health. They increase flexibility and strengthen the body and decrease our chance of heart disease and strokes. Taking your exercise outside adds a whole new dimension. Being outdoors we are more aware of our surroundings, more aware of where we put our feet, more aware of being a part of something bigger then ourselves and part of a huge and interconnected, beautiful planet
Getting out into nature, whether for a jog on the beach or a hike in the woods is incredibly healing and essential for our immune system.
GET RID OF HARMFUL HABITS
Alcohol, smoking, being amongst negative people, limiting self talk.....all of these are harmful habits that have an impact on our health and wellness. Alcohol may seem fun and harmless at the time but even a glass of wine can effect the quality of your sleep. Alcohol abuse can lead to immunodeficiency. Smoking has huge health implications on the lungs and the quality of your breath. When you can breathe easily and freely you are charging your body with prana, the life force energy. More prana means better health. Limiting self talk and negative people can seriously dampen your mood. I'm not saying don't have fun and live life fully just be aware of what you might be taking in.
IMPROVE YOUR DIET
This is the most important step in boosting your body’s defense. The first thing you should do is to stay clear of processed foods, sugar and dairy. I suggest a vegan lifestyle as a vegan diet generally creates an alkaline internal environment and disease can not grow easily there. However choose meat, fish and chicken carefully if that is your choice.
Get plenty of vitamins but get them from the source. Eat real food, not synthetic vitamins and supplements that someone else has concocted for you. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of vitamins, phyto nutrients, polyphenols, antioxidants, pectin, fibre, manganese, potassium
Consume probiotics and prebiotics, these will heal and strengthen your gut and impact the immune system by increasing the body’s natural production of antibodies. Increase your intake of kombucha, kimchi, fermented foods, dark chocolate and keffir
Eat garlic – Either eat it or stick it up your bottom. If it can keep vampires away it can do the same for a cold. Packed with potassium, magnesium and a large number of sulfuric compounds, garlic enhances the number of virus-fighting T-cells and fights stress and fatigue.
Include nuts and seeds in your diet – these are a great source of antioxidants, vitamins, selenium, and zinc, which makes them superheroes of your immune system strengthening.
Finally if you struggle to get all the necessary goodness into you to support yours and your children's bodies...do what I do and supplement with juice plus. Fruits, veggies and berries are blended, skin, piff and all. The sugar and fluid is removed so a very dense, highly concentrated wholefood, vegan powder remains. They come in a vegan capsule or kid friendly gummy. Shhhh. Its my convenient and simple nutrition secret weapon.
