Tips for a Stronger Immune system

Tips for a Stronger Immune System

Importance

A healthy immune system is crucial for keeping the body free of viruses, sickness and fatigue. WebMd describes the immune system as, “a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against disease. It blocks foreign proteins from getting into your body. If a few happen to sneak by your biological sentry, not to worry. With a powerful ‘search and destroy’ task force, your body deploys a host of additional immune cell forces designed to hunt down these unwanted invaders and ultimately works to destroy them.” There are various factors that play into building a strong immune system, but a strong immune system is usually a result of a healthy lifestyle that consists of eating right, regular exercise and sleep.

Diet

I have the most information on diet. This is because your diet can significantly help or hurt your immune system so it is extremely important to choose foods that support your immune system.

Eating foods high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants help aid the immune system because extra nutrients help fight off free radicals. According to Livestrong.com, eating foods high in Vitamin-C aid the immune system due to the fact that, “Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that provides potent antioxidant, or disease-fighting, effects.” Eating a diet plentiful in fresh fruits and vegetables will provide you with a multitude of vitamins and antioxidants.

Livestrong.com states that whole grains and fatty fish are among some of the best foods to eat in order to support a healthy immune system. Whole grains “contain all nutritious parts of the original, unprocessed grain, they provide more vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein than refined grains such as enriched flour. Increasing your fiber intake through whole grain consumption is a valuable dietary step toward improving your immune system.”

Fatty fish is highly beneficial to our immune system because it is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, a fat that our bodies need in order to function normally. Since our bodies do not efficiently produce omega-3 fatty acids, we must get omega-3 from our diet. For an explanation of omega-3 and its benefits, click here!

Also, do not forget to hydrate! Hydrating allows the body to function normally, so if you do not hydrate enough, you are putting your body at a disadvantage that can lead to a list of unpleasant effects.

Eating a healthy diet will not completely prevent you from sickness, however it will definitely help prevent sickness and help enhance recovery. 

Exercise

Regular exercise helps excrete many of the body’s toxins and helps relieve built up stress from life’s stressors. Stress severely harms the immune system, so get up and sweat! Try and aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.

Sleep

Everybody needs different amounts of sleep, but the average person needs 6-8 hours a night. If your body does not get enough sleep, you are likely to experience irritability, lack of motivation and lack of focus and according to discoveryhealth, some studies show that “chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.”  Sleep is essential to the body and if we do not get enough sleep, our body cannot function properly and therefore, our immune system fails to do its job.

As a college student approaching midterms, I especially need to follow my own advice right now. I cannot afford to get sick and I need to be awake and energized in order to study and preform well on my exams!

Leave me a comment! What has worked for you?