Viruses, disease, infection are all things we want to avoid. Sickness makes us feel terrible and it disrupts our lives for days, if not weeks. In an effort to avoid, or recover faster from illness, there are things you can do daily to help care for your body that may help build up your immunity.
Choose nutritious foods
Hippocrates, the father of medicine said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This quote is a good reminder that the food we put into our bodies has the ability to improve our health.
Foods that provide the most nutrition are fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. These foods have special nutrients that not only work well on their own, but when combined with other healthy foods, multiply the immune boosting power.
Be active
Studies suggest physical activity can help boost immune function. Researchers are still trying to figure out how. They believe activity may help by increasing circulation of immune cells in the blood. Another theory is contraction and movement of muscles releases cells that find and fight off infection.
Get enough sleep
Different parts of the immune system are affected by sleep. Research shows that even a small amount of sleep lost can have big consequences. For example, the activity of cells that help fight off cancer or certain infections can fall after one night of poor sleep. Additionally, other cells, that can cause diseases and disorders, will rise when a few hours of sleep are lost after just one night.
Aim for a healthy weight
Extra weight can make it harder for your immune system to work. Certain cells can cause inflammation in the body that may overwork the immune system.
Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
Smoking, or any tobacco use, can cause various types of health issues – cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to these diseases, smoke itself – firsthand or secondhand can cause problems with the immune system overall.