The whole world has been turned on its head by the threat of the Covid-19 virus. People are buying shelves of hand sanitizers and other items from the shops. Washing hands and basic good hygiene, and social isolation are all excellent ideas to help prevent the further spread of the virus. But what can you do to help your body fight off other nasty germs and viruses? Helping build your immune system can improve your overall health. All general medicines are essential and also help, but what else can you do?
The Obvious
There are certain things you should be doing every day like, eating healthy and exercising. Eating fruits high in vitamin C, such as your citrus fruits. Also, red bell peppers have a high amount of Vitamin C and are rich in Beta Carotene, which is great in supporting the immune system.
More foods that help to boost the immune system:
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Papaya
- Kiwi Fruit
- Blueberries
- Tumeric
- Spinach
Regular exercise is also great to help keep your body in good shape. You don’t have to have a gym membership to get your daily exercise in. You can easily take a walk around the block or there are several exercises you can easily do at home. Just remember, if you are sick, do not perform any strenuous exercises.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is something your body needs and plays a vital role in keeping you healthy. Those who get very little sleep due to stress or other reasons may very well be negatively impacting their immune system. Cytokines, which are a group of proteins, are produced while sleeping and help to regulate the immune system. So, try to get those 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Otherwise, if for some reason, you don’t get enough sleep during the night, try to get two naps in during the day. Take one nap in the morning and one in the afternoon, not longer than 30 minutes. These power naps are said to help reduce stress and keep you from becoming sleep-deprived.
Avoid Bad Habits
Unfortunately, smoking and excessive drinking can have negative effects on the body’s immune system. Smoking, in particular, can contribute to your body being more susceptible to infections such as colds and flu.
Reduce Stress
In this modern age, stress is a regular companion. I am sure most of us, just by watching the news can get all stressed out. So, try to reduce stress by exercising, maybe including relaxing routines like yoga and deep breathing. Make sure to disconnect once in a while from everything, spend time with the family, or curl up with a good book.
Vitamins and Health Supplements
There are so many different vitamins and supplements on the market, which makes it difficult to know what to get. For one, some supplements cost you a small fortune, and you don’t have to buy into all the hype over certain products. There are plenty out there that are just as effective and easier on the wallet. By simply eating a healthy diet filled with veggies, fruits, nuts, etc. you are already providing your body with most of the nutrients it needs. You should easily be able to get a vitamin C supplement or a basic general supplement from any pharmacy, which is affordable. You can get these supplements in a variety of forms from pills to chewable tablets and Fizzies.
The plant Echinacea is a popular choice when it comes to helping boost the immune system. Some teas are great to drink for health purposes. Green tea has immune-boosting properties and is a good all-around healthy drink with lots of antioxidants. Moringa tea is another fantastic immune-boosting tea, with loads of other benefits. Just remember, that in some instances any natural remedies can have side effects, so follow the instructions when buying. I have also noted being mentioned that probiotics are also great to include in your diet, which can have some benefits including helping to improve the immune system.
So, there are quite a few things you can do to help your body fight off infections. When it comes to diet, supplements are okay, but as the saying goes, ‘Food is the Best Medicine.’
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