It may be hard to believe, but summer is coming to an end, which means fall is just around the corner. Fall brings with it colorful leaves, cooler temperatures, and unfortunately, cold and flu season. Instead of falling victim to illness this fall, try these simple tips to start boosting your immune system now so you can have a cold- and flu-free fall.
Simple tips to boost your immune system
A big culprit of a weak immune system is exhaustion, both physical and mental. When we are exhausted, our immune system can’t work it’s best to fight off germs that enter the body, which means you get sick. With all of life’s demands, it seems many of us are suffering from some type of exhaustion. Combatting it can improve your immune system. Ensuring you get a good night’s sleep each and every night can help reduce exhaustion and also give your body the appropriate time to recover from the day’s stresses.
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Other key areas that can help improve your immune system are food, exercise, hormones, and nutrition.
Food goes a long way in fueling exhaustion. Just think about it. If you’ve ever consumed a large meal, you probably felt like you needed a nap immediately after. Eating certain foods can go a long way in either promoting energy or fatigue. Steering clear of processed foods is a good step in promoting energy and improving your immune system. This means consuming foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean meat. These foods will help ensure your body gets the adequate nutrition to boost the immune system rather than weigh it down.
Another tip is to eliminate trans fats and saturated fats, refined sugars, and empty carbohydrates, as these foods can make you feel sluggish along with contributing to other health conditions like obesity, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
There are specific foods, herbs, and spices that can work to boost the immune system too. These include garlic, radish, hot mustard, blueberries, and pomegranates.
Ensuring you’re well hydrated also keeps you energized and flushes the body of toxins.
Lastly, eat foods that don’t promote weight gain and watch your calories. Being overweight slows down your immune system, making it less effective at fighting bacteria and viruses.
Exercise is important too
Exercise is another great method to improve the immune system. This is because exercise supports all bodily functions such as improving heart health, bone health, and lung function, to name a few. When the inside of your body is working top-notch, your immune system will too.
Furthermore, regular exercise supports healthy blood circulation and good blood circulation supports immune cells.
When starting a workout routine, start off slow and work yourself up gradually. Additionally, complete exercises that won’t cause further complications or injuries. Speaking to your doctor or working with a trainer can help you find exercises that you not only enjoy, but are safe for you to perform.
If exercise isn’t your thing, completing housework can also offer you similar benefits. Whether you are vacuuming, gardening, or even dusting, the goal is to complete an activity that gets your heart pumping and keeps you moving.
Boosting your immune system doesn’t have to be complicated, and if you start now, then you can have an illness-free fall. Just adhering to some basic fundamentals of good sleep, proper nutrition and food, and regular exercise can help you boost your immune system.
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