Giving your immune system the best shot at protecting your body takes more than just wishful thinking. To support your immunity, you will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat right. We’ve shortlisted some of the best ways to strengthen your immune system. Make these 8 lifestyle changes and you’ll do your immune system a world of good.
#1 Exercise And Stay Active
If you’re trying to help your immune system, you must try and do some exercise (even a 30-minute walk) daily. Moderate intensity exercise improves immune function and potentially reduces risk and severity of respiratory viral infection. That way, even when you do fall ill, your infection may be less severe than someone who has a more sedentary lifestyle. Exercise helps on multiple fronts – improves blood circulation which can help with fighting infections, stimulates antibodies and white blood cell production, and lowers stress.
#2 Get Adequate Sleep
Sleep is a manageable lifestyle change to aid your immune system. If you aren’t sleeping enough, it can disturb your body’s inflammatory and immune response. Your immune system benefits from a full night’s sleep – that’s anywhere from 7 to 9 hours daily.
#3 Eat Right
Some simple changes to the way you eat can make a big difference to your immune system. Adequate amount of protein is essential for proper functioning of the immune system. Milk & Milk products, dals & pulses are good sources of protein. Ensure you eat lots of fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds and nuts. Fresh fruit and vegetables are also a great source of antioxidant nutrients that help support the immune system. Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish and nuts – they fight inflammation and help the immune system. Cut out fast food, packaged and processed goods, and fried foods that may not provide immunity nutrients . Find out more about foods that boost the immune system.
#4 Stay Hydrated
Tank up on fluids. Try and drink plain water through the day with the occasional glass of lime juice, fresh vegetable or fruit juices, or even healthy fresh smoothies. Soups and broths are another way to increase fluid intake. Why are fluids so important? They help to maintain water electrolyte balance. Water also helps to flush out toxins that may be in your body. Try to reduce the intake of coffee and tea as they dehydrate you.
#5 Learn To Relax
Stress is a foe of the immune system. If you are stressed, that makes you twice as vulnerable to illness compared to someone who isn’t stressed. Learning how to cope with stress better is an important skill you need to learn. Try relaxation techniques that you’re comfortable with – it could be meditation or breathing techniques or yoga or even just listening to music or aromatherapy.
#6 Quit Smoking
Smoking isn’t good for your immune system. It can weaken the ability to battle infections as small as a common cold to something as major as cancer. Try and quit smoking – you’ll notice the benefits of how you feel almost immediately.
#7 Avoid Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol can dehydrate the body, so reduce intake if you can. Drink in moderation when you do. Excessive intake of alcohol has been linked to adverse effects on immune health like increased susceptibility to some infections.
#8 Support Your Immune System With Multivitamins
Include a daily multivitamin in your routine. Whether you’re looking for the best multivitamin for men, women, or kids, Maxirich Daily Multivitamins are a smart choice. This multivitamin soft gel capsule contains over 13 multivitamins as well as minerals in the right amounts to ensure you get all the nutrients needed to support the immune system. It’s easy to have and possibly the simplest thing to do on this list of lifestyle changes.
Maxirich Daily Multivitamins are widely available at pharmacies online and offline. No prescription is required to get the supplement, so you can start making this change right away!