That time of year is coming, with all the colds, flu viruses, and other nasty bugs ready to crawl out of the woodwork. Of course, this year, we all have a not-so-little extra reason to be worried about how effectively our body can handle microscopic invaders. Here, we’re going to look at five ways you can help improve your body’s immune system to turn it into a veritable fortress against disease.
Sleep is critical
Sleep is one of those parts of daily life that we can’t quite say why it’s so vital, but we do know that it is crucial to several functions of the body, including immune response. People who do not get enough sleep are much more prone to catch illnesses and to suffer them for longer, as well. Improving your sleeping habits by limiting nighttime technology use and better sealing the sleep environment can have real implications for your health.
Get the right mix of vitamins
Just like anything else related to health, a balanced diet is very highly related to your body’s ability to muster a strong immune response. Healthy fats, lean proteins, and plenty of fruit and veg are all key. However, there are a few vitamins worth a little additional emphasis, such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. Supplements can help, but most experts agree, nowadays, that it’s easier to absorb these nutrients from your food.
Improving the nervous system
The nervous system, which is comprised of not only the brain but nerves throughout the body, helps the immune system respond more quickly to danger. There are ways to improve this nervous system’s connection to the body, such as with the help of a chiropractor. They attest that misalignments can reduce the body’s ability to deploy the immune response in a timely and helpful manner.
Spend more time in the sun
We’re all spending more time indoors, and that’s not likely to change with the changing of the seasons. However, another key vitamin for your immune response is vitamin D. The t-cells in your body that activate your immune response are fueled by this vitamin, which is not only gotten from food, but also from direct contact with sunlight, so a little time outside each day is essential.
Watch those stress levels
Another example of things that can affect your immune cells’ ability to do their job is long-term stress. Aside from suppressing your immune response, stress and anxiety have shown to increase the impact of inflammation as well. Not only does being more prone to inflammation make your immune response more painful, but it can also increase your chances of chronic pain, as well. Taking the time to fight stress, be it through exercise, meditation, yoga, or otherwise, is highly recommended.
Improving your immune system won’t guarantee that you can stay safe from any bacterial or viral illnesses. However, it can give you a much better fighting chance and help your body fight them off more effectively even if you do catch them, too.
