5 Simple steps to boost your immune system
During the cold and flu season, many of your family and friends might get sick and some may not, even when everyone in their home is sick with the common cold or flu. Have you ever wondered why some people get sick and some are more prone to catching the cold or flu? It’s all about the body’s immune system.
Our Immune System
There are 3 parts to the immune system. The first line of defence is your mucosal lining, skin and hairs (nose, ears) which keep dust, pollen and foreign particles out. The second line of defence is fever, heating your internal system to destroy any foreign particles and inflammation, which isolates and destroys these particles. Lastly, your T cells produce antibodies specific to the cold or flu and your B cells then go and make copies to store in your body for future battles. All in all, your immune system works hard every single day and continues to need your ongoing support. Using the 5 simple steps can help stay health, strong and ready to fight.
Source: www.bioninja.com.au
5 Simple Steps
As your immune system is the body’s ability to fight against a foreign particle, which by the way people also includes funky parasites too, it needs to be strong and ready. You’re probably thinking, how can I do this, am I not doing this already? Well, you probably are most of the time, but being consistent is key. I use 5 simple steps that helps me maintain a healthy immune system:
Exercise – weight training and reaching 10,000 steps a day
Diet – varied diet that includes nuts, meats, vegetables and fruit (canned or fresh). I use the 20/80 method which means 20% acidic food and 80% alkaline food.
Meditation or Yoga – 10-15 minutes a day
Herbs & Supplements – Herbs like, Echinacea, elderberry, ginger, and garlic can help reduce the duration and severity of illness. On top of that, using vitamin and mineral supplements provide the necessary nutrients for a strong immune system such as Zinc, Vitamin C, D and Calcium. However, although these supplements may offer a small benefit for immune health, they should not and cannot be used as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle and you should consult with a health professional.
Sleep: 8 hours of solid sleep to allow your body to rest and rejuvenate
Some of you know I have a very busy lifestyle between two jobs, a mini farm and my social life, therefore I need to make sure I stay rejuvenated, rested and healthy. As I have coeliac disease, I am already immunocompromised and susceptible to a range of issues such as osteoporosis to name one. Why? It’s because my body doesn’t absorb specific vitamins and minerals like everyone else, so instead of letting this get me down and stress me out I do my research and test it out. And for me my five simple steps worked helping me to achieve good blood counts and strong bones.
If you want to achieve a strong and healthy immune system, then you may only need to change some parts of your lifestyle. These little changes may be enough to protect you against the cold and flu season. Give them a go and witness the change in your body’s ability to fight. You will notice a huge difference in yourself.
Anna x
Cover Photo by Brooke Lark
