A person’s immune system is responsible for ensuring your well-being, protecting you against dangerous pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins that can harm your body.
When you get confronted with challenges beyond your usual stress or mental and emotional challenges, you need to be armed with a robust and healthy immune system.
A great immune system not only keeps you far from illnesses; it also helps you do more. It helps athletes, physical trainers, coaches, or those aspiring to get a fitness registration in some states in Australia.
If you’re interested to know more, here are different ways you boost your immune system optimally.
Stick to a Healthy Diet
Following a healthy diet is the key to having a robust immune system, meaning you need to add more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats to your meals. Additionally, sticking to a healthy diet ensures you’re getting the right amount of micronutrients that play a massive role in maintaining your immune system’s optimal function, such as vitamin B6, C, and E.
Get Good Quality Sleep Regularly
Getting regular and quality sleep is crucial for your immune system as research studies show that individuals who slept less had weaker immune systems. That’s because when you sleep, your immune system releases a protein called cytokines, which helps the body fight infections, inflammation, and stress. Being sleep deprived can decrease the body’s production of this protein, gradually weakening your immune system.
Stay Hydrated
Water plays several essential roles in maintaining one’s optimal health, including the immune system. A particular fluid in your circulation called lymph, which carries crucial infection-fighting immune cells around your body, comprises mostly water. When you get dehydrated, this slows down the lymph’s movement, eventually leading to an impaired immune system over time. So, ensure you drink water often to maintain a healthy and functioning immune system.
Exercise Regularly
Being physically active can help maintain a healthy immune system. The best exercises for your immune system are ones that can boost your overall circulation, making it easier for your immune cells and other infection-fighting molecules to circulate throughout your body with ease.
Consume Alcohol in Moderation
Although most people love to have a pint of beer or a glass of wine, consuming them in excess can drastically deplete your immune system. That’s because high levels of alcohol consumption can weaken your body’s capability to fight infection, ultimately slowing down your recovery time. It forces your body to focus on detoxifying your system, leaving minimal resources for a regular immune system function.
Minimize Stress
Whether you get stressed quickly or gradually build up over time, you need to manage your stress levels. That’s because when you get stressed or tired often, your body will respond by initiating stress responses. This stress response suppresses your immune system, increasing your chances of getting sick or infected.
Stress is different for everybody—but whether it’s deep breathing, meditating, praying, or exercising, familiarize yourself with the activities that can reduce your stress levels.
The immune system is complex, but despite this, here are everyday habits that you can focus on to give your immune system a ‘boost’ to fight off infections or illnesses—and the ways mentioned can ensure it has everything it needs to function optimally.
