Boosting Your Immune System Through Healthy Living

By Emily Baker


No matter how strong our immune systems are, it seems impossible for everyone to not get sick at all every once in a while. But what about the cold winter months if your immune system is already low? The majority of time is probably spent stuck in bed, surrounded by boxes of tissues and over-the-counter cold and flu medicines. However, it doesn't have to be that way, and this article aims to explain some of the best ways to strengthen your immune system until its in tip-top shape, with pointers on everything from diet to exercise to stress levels.

For starters, your diet is the cornerstone of your immune system strength, since the food we feed ourselves is truly our bodies fuel, and to run with optimum performance, we need to be running on the most efficient and cleanest fuel possible. It is absolutely essential to incorporate as many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your diet as possible, and keep it to a minimum with foods high in fat or sugar. A general rule of thumb: if it is raw, it is good for you; if it is processed, it is bad for you.

Foods high in vitamins A, E, C and B are also all excellent for building up a strong immune system, as well as consuming foods that act as natural antioxidants, such as blueberries. All greens, like spinach, kale and broccoli are wonderful for you, and plenty of delicious fruits and veggies are as well, including bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, berries, nuts and seeds. Even lean meats are a good addition to strengthen your immune system. All of these foods are packed with some vitamin or mineral to help your body improve general overall health, as well as helping to fight off infections more effectively.

A healthy diet is generally the first step towards an overall healthy lifestyle, which includes incorporating daily exercise (even in moderate doses), and keeping your body fat content at an appropriate weight, and lowering your stress level. All of these systems work together in one little nicely-tied-up package, as a healthy diet and regular exercise lowers your stress and begets a healthy weight, much as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly demands a healthy diet and naturally keeps stress levels lower, and so on. Cutting out foods that are high in sugar and fat is essential, and by doing all of these things you will also lessen your stress level, which is another contributing factor to a weak immune system. When faced with chronic stress your body over-produces both cortisol and adrenaline, two stress hormones that can actually boost your immune system in small doses, but can only repress it.

Additionally, keeping your stress levels as low as possible is another great way to boost your immune system. Stress releases both cortisol and adrenaline in one's body, and while these two stress hormones can help boost your immune system when present in small doses, it will eventually repress it when there is too much present. Also, don't forget these three easy tips that will never fail to help your immune system get as strong as possible: wash your hands with frequency, get plenty of sleep, and consume alcohol only in moderation.




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