By Even if you are healthy, we could all use some immune-boosting habits
Even if you are healthy, we could all use some immune-boosting habits. I mistakenly believed my immune system was unstoppable. Still, I’ve yet to catch Covid 19, but I realised how vulnerable I was when I caught Influenza A. That illness completely wiped me out for a few months, suffering days of high fever, shakes, vomiting and no appetite. Then, after about a month, I caught something else, which I’m still trying to recover from.
I mistakenly believed my immune system was unstoppable.
Still, I’ve yet to catch Covid 19, but I realised how vulnerable I was when I caught Influenza A.
That illness completely wiped me out for a few months, suffering days of high fever, shakes, vomiting and no appetite. Then, after about a month, I caught something else, which I’m still trying to recover from.
I eat healthy, exercise and ensure I get as many phytonutrients as possible — but we all have weaknesses.
My lack of sleep, endless study, and work leave me extremely stressed and overworked. But, of course, that’s on top of a family and now a new puppy!
If you don’t allow yourself to recover properly from illness, then you will seem to catch everything.
That’s why it’s important to keep our gut healthy and eat as many nutrient-rich vegetables and pre and probiotic foods as possible.
There are so many different pathways viruses can infiltrate and take over.
Therefore, be very vigilant when it comes to boosting your immunity regularly.
Here’s how.
One: If you think you’re eating well — do better
It’s easy to leave it up to your regular diet to boost your immunity. But, to prevent an illness, we must keep adding those vital nutrients & vitamins to support immunity.
If your family members experience symptoms, you need to boost your nutritional profile.
Eliminate inflammatory foods with sugar, processed, refined carbs and, of course — why are you smoking?
These suppress your immune system, whereas vegetables of all colours & fruits help to give our immune system the support it needs when faced with multitudes of bacteria.
So keep providing your body with the nutrients it needs, and stop sacrificing for processed foods.
Two: Eat fermented foods and take probiotics daily
It’s important to be very consistent when taking your probiotics every day.
Probiotics help to strengthen your immune system. Probiotics are filled with beneficial bacteria that occur naturally in fermented foods. Integrate some kimchi and sauerkraut into your food plan every day.
For example, you can add sauerkraut to your salads or baked vegetables, adding extra flavour to your foods and boosting good gut bacteria.
Three: You may need a good night’s sleep — every night
I could use this advice too!
A good night’s sleep is the best rejuvenation boost available.
No food or exercise can give you the same refreshing feeling.
Even if you are feeling something coming on, there is no doubt that going to bed a bit early and sleeping it off may be all you need.
Without sleep, your nervous system can’t transport and deliver all the necessary messaging that your immune system depends on.
Four: Exercise and be active daily
Exercise helps boost your immune function while improving responses to vaccines.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true if you overtrain, as that can suppress your immune function.
Moderate intensity is the way to go, although having bouts of intensive exercise is beneficial — as long as it’s not every day.
Moderate exercise greatly lowers inflammation and stress levels and improves sleep quality.
Review your exercise levels and adjust accordingly if you regularly succumb to colds and flu.
Five: Add this mushroom powder to your workout shake
A mushroom called Reishi is available in pill or powder form, and it helps to lower anxiety and stress.
This added ingredient to your post-workout shake or any smoothies you drink daily.
It also helps to boost your immune system and decreases inflammation within the body.
Although our bodies experience inflammation post-workout, this might help reduce negative forms of inflammation brewing in your body.
Key take away
Protecting and flourishing your immune system is as important as keeping your gut health optimal.
These two important activities help protect you against diseases and viruses lurking everywhere.
As we all begin to go back into the office regularly, travel on public transport and start going out a lot more, our immune system is inevitably somewhat suppressed.
Please don’t leave it until you show signs of illness to start taking action. Instead, do it now to ensure you ease the severity, or better yet — bypass it completely!
That means you won’t miss training, which is brilliant news for me!
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