Simple Ways To Boost Your Immunity Naturally

With the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, it is imperative to take measures to keep the virus at bay. And one way to do this is by boosting your immune system.

For those who do not know, the immune system is our bodies’ natural defense against bacteria, illnesses, and diseases. To ensure you remain healthy, it is of utmost importance to boost your immunity.

In this article, we are going to highlight a few simple practices you can do at home to boost your immune system, remain healthy, and ensure longevity.

Let’s delve into specifics.

• Drink enough water

It is a fact that 60% of our body is made up of water. As such, remaining hydrated in such a time as this is vital.

Waterworks on our digestive system is good for the kidneys and ensures the smooth running of other bodily functions. Additionally, it helps in the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, helps in bowel movement, and regulates the temperatures of the body. All these benefits work towards boosting the immune system and keeping us healthy.

Have you ever wondered why every weight loss and detox regime involves the intake of a lot of liquids, particularly water?

The reason is, water is one of the best natural mediums that can be used to flush out toxins from the body. As the body moves from the mouth, down the esophagus, throughout the body, and finally out as urine, it does some major clean-up. It carries dirt, bacteria, and other infection-causing germs out of the body, preventing infections and boosting immunity.

To ensure you remain healthy, medical practitioners advise people to drink at least eight glasses of water every day. However, make sure you drink clean or treated water. It is best to invest in an over the counter water purifier. Use it to purify your water from harmful substances like lead and eliminate chlorine from the water to make it better-tasting.

• Eat healthily

Eating healthy food is one of the best ways to boost your immune system. The foods we eat contain nutrients that are necessary to maintain proper bodily function and to keep the body’s immunity on a high.

To ensure you gain the most out of your foods, ensure you eat plenty of plant-based foods that include fruits and vegetables. They are good antioxidants and provide great antimicrobial properties that help the body in the fight against infections and allergies.

It is also good to note that Vitamin C helps in fighting infections. Also, foods rich in protein helps build and strengthen immune cells.

• Avoid stress

We live in tough economic times that demand a lot physically and emotionally. As such, it is common to find people becoming stressed up as they try to fend for their families and makes ends meet.

Stress can wreak havoc on the body. The reason being, it produces cortisol hormones that help the body cope in stressful times. However, when stress episodes are longer, the hormone blocks the immune system from performing its intended functions, allowing individuals to become prone to germs, viruses, bacteria, and other allergens that bring about sickness.

However, there are various things you could do to ensure the hormone cortisol does not compromise your immunity. The trick is to find a stress-relieving technique that works for you. It could mean visiting a therapist, doing meditation, sports, or partaking in an activity that you love. By setting aside at least 15 minutes daily to do any stress-relieving activity will make you feel better and strengthen your immune system.

• Get a good night’s sleep

Ever wondered why it is recommended to have at least 8 hours of sleep every night?

During the day time, our bodies undergo a lot of stress and pressure that wears it off. It is in the night time that we settle down and allow the body to rest. When we sleep, the body has ample time to heal and regenerate. It also allows the body to produce cytokines, T cells, and interleukin 12 cells that are key immune cells in the body.

Lack of enough sleep or insomnia prevents the body from performing the above necessary processes, significantly lowering the immune system. It also leads to the production of the stress hormone cortisol that we earlier discussed.

• Regular exercise

Health experts and medical practitioners always encourage individuals to engage in regular exercise for a good reason.

Adopting a regular exercise regime boosts our immunity, significantly lowering the risk of developing chronic diseases, viral, and bacterial infections. It also goes a long way in releasing feel-good hormones known as endorphins that help in stress management.

Last but not least, during bouts of any physical activity, the body’s immune system becomes vigilant, causing it to distribute immune cells throughout the body, which helps in the early identification of infected cells and promoting recovery of the cells.