(STL.News) Not everything we eat is what it seems to be and what we put into our bodies is what we get out of them. Essentially, if we look after ourselves, then our bodies should follow suit and fight off any illnesses.
It can be easy to lose track of our health and fall into bad habits, though. There are numerous ways in which we can boost our immune system, but it involves a big commitment and, potentially, an array of lifestyle changes. If your actions strengthen your body’s natural defenses, then it makes it all the worthwhile, especially during a time when immune system strength is dominating the discussion, with the world more health-conscious than ever before.
Ultimately, it’s about balance, not overindulging and putting too much strain on your body. It’s fine eating badly for a day or two and playing creations on sites bringing the latest gaming news or catching up on that Netflix series everyone is raving about, but in moderation. It shouldn’t be a daily occurrence, especially as looking after our bodies is arguably more important than ever before, which is why global awareness on this topic has grown rapidly.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some natural ways in which you can boost your immune system.
Make sure you get enough sleep
Sleep and immunity are, unsurprisingly, closely linked. If you sleep badly, then chances are you’ll pick up an illness or at least be a lot more susceptible to catching one. Getting enough sleep strengthens immunity and also enables you to fight off illnesses should you pick one up. For adults, around 7 hours of sleep per night is recommended, whereas for teens, they need 8-10 hours, and children and infants require up to 14 hours of sleep, according to various studies.
Introduce whole plant foods into your diet
Whole plant foods are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, which help fight off harmful illnesses by strengthening your immune system. The types of whole plant foods you should eat are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. They also have the ability to decrease inflammation, which can lead to numerous health conditions such as heart disease and certain types of cancer. These types of foods also contain a large amount of vitamin C – another immune-boosting ingredient we all need.
Eat more healthy fats
The word fat tends to scare people, but believe it or not, there are actually healthy fats for us and our bodies. Healthy fats we need tend to come from the likes of salmon, olive oil and walnuts, and play a huge part in aiding the body’s immune response and fighting against inflammation. Try adding olive oil to a salad or eating salmon instead of chicken.
Get exercising
Our bodies need exercise for a wide variety of reasons. One of them is down to our immune system, as moderate exercise can give the immune system a boost and enable your cells to regenerate more regularly, thus fighting off any potential illnesses or any inflammation. Try adding some walking, swimming or cycling into your weekly routine, and your body will thank you for it, although don’t overdo it as that can have the opposite effect.
Limit added sugars
Obesity, added sugars and refined carbs are all linked, according to a number of recent studies. Staying on top of your weight is important in that respect, as it can increase your chances of falling ill. Try cutting down on your sugar intake, therefore decreasing your risk of developing any chronic health conditions and enabling you to shed a few pounds too.
Martin Smith is the founder and Editor in Chief of STL.News, STL.Directory and St. Louis Restaurant Review. Smith is responsible for selecting content to be published with the help of a publishing team located around the globe. Smith is also responsible for building a network of aggregator sites to manage thousands of aggregated and indexed sources to create the content library used to filter and publish. He is a member of the United States Press Agency.