Want some easy ways to naturally boost your immune system? During cold and flu season perhaps? Or maybe during the long winter weeks when you’re stuck inside and more likely to catch something. It’s also important anytime you board a plane or when your kids start school.
Here are three simple ways to boost your immune system. These are easy lifestyle changes which for best results should be made a part of your regular routine. By making the effort to boost your immune system naturally, you won’t get overnight results. But keep at it and you will see a healthier, happier you. Let’s start.
Eat More Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
All systems of your body work best when they are properly fed. This includes your immune system. Stick to a mainly whole foods based diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. If you feel like you might be a little under the weather or suspect that you may have come into contact with someone sick, increasing your intake of Vitamin C may help as well.
- A short list of foods to boost your immune system include:
- Vitamin C – Citrus Fruits & Greens.
- Beta-Carotene – Root Vegetables & Greens
- Vitamin E – Nuts, Seeds & Greens
- Antioxidants – Green Tea
- Vitamin D – Fish & Eggs
- Probiotics, Gut Health & Immunity
- Garlic – T-Cell Booster
Avoid eating processed foods. It takes a lot of time and effort to digest them and you don’t want to weigh your body down with extra work when that energy could be used to boost your immune system, keep you from getting sick, or help you get well sooner.
And of course trying to minimize sugar intake is super helpful as that creates all kinds of negative impact on your body: increase inflamation, lowers immune system, and contributes to emotional ups and downs.
For more tips on healthy eating check out my blog post How to Reclaim Your Glow with the Best Foods for Heathy Skin!
Boost Your Immune System by Getting Some Exercise
In addition to eating well, get out there and get regular exercise. For best results, work out in the fresh air. Being out in the sunshine helps boost your Vitamin D levels as well. Something as simple as a daily quick walk can help you strengthen your body and create a strong immune system.
It has the added benefit of helping you to de-stress. I don’t have to tell you that you’re more likely to get sick when you are stressed out. Use daily exercise to destress and stay well. It will also help you with the last way to boost your immune system.
Pick an exercise that you enjoy doing. I personally find it easier to attend a class as it gives me a specific time to show up and there is a sense of accountability built in as well. If you are on a Medicare check to see whether your insurance plan is part of the Silver Sneakers program as that may give you a way to join a workout facility for free or very little cost.
- Some exercises that I enjoy are:
- Water aerobics
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Body Sculpting or Toning Classes
- Walking
Enough Sleep is last of the Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System
This last tip is easy to skip over, yet it is the most important one for most of us and the one that can give your immune system a great boost. It’s getting enough sleep.
Make the time to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Practice good sleep hygiene. Don’t let the word scare you. It means turning off your phone and other screens a few hours before bed. Keep your bedroom calm, quiet, and at a temperature that encourages sleep. I
t also includes establishing and sticking to a bedtime routine. As an added bonus, you’ll feel more energized for everything else you have to do all day. I have a series of blog posts called “7 Days to a Better Bedtime Routine” with lots of great tips to a better night’s sleep. Click the link to check it out.
Conclusion
Wrapping up this post on ways to naturally boost your immune system it basically comes down to choosing to live a more healthy lifestyle. Eating right, exercising on a regular basis and getting enough rest is most likely nothing you haven’t heard before. The challenge is simply making it happen.
Unfortunately there is no little pill to take that fixes it all and no fairy godmother with a magic wand to wave. It all comes down to you and choices you make. You can do it. Just ask yourself how important it is for you to enjoy good health as you continue to age and live out your life. If you make the effort now to incorporate these ways to naturally boost your immune system you have a much better chance of enjoying life to a greater degree even as you age.
