A weakened immune system leaves the body vulnerable to virtually every type of illness and disease, especially when there is a seasonal shift from cold winters to warm summers. Properly caring your immune system can boost its power to fight off those pesky viral diseases that bring you down.
Here are the top immune boosting tips to incorporate into your routine to help you stay healthy
Exercise regularly Rather unsurprisingly for a sports fitness blog, I am going to recommend regular exercise as a great way to increase your immunity and overall health. Not only can exercise improve your immunity, but it can also reduce stress and make you feel much more positive about life in general. I’m sure that most of the readers here exercise regularly anyway so I won’t say much more on this one.
Reduce StressWe all know that stress is bad and best avoided but most people don’t realize that it can have a negative effect on our immune systems. When we are stressed our body releases a variety of chemicals including cytokines, cortisol and adrenaline that affect our immune function and overall health. You should always try and find ways to eliminate as much stress as possible from your daily life if you want to improve your immunity and general wellbeing. Regular exercise is often one of the best ways to reduce stress.
Stay positive As crazy as it sounds, your attitude and outlook on life can actually have a profound effect on your body’s immunity. Various studies have indicated that people who have a more positive attitude to life tend to live longer and have better immune functions than people who are pessimistic and easily stressed. Take some time to work though some well written positive thinking books and you will soon realize that the power of the mind is truly incredible.
Eat WellYour diet will have a drastic effect on your body’s immune system and you should always think carefully about the food you eat. Make sure you eat a well balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, proteins and healthy fats.
Have FunLaughter is good for the body and soul. Try and have fun, laugh and get out there and enjoy life. Laughter will boost your immune system and make you feel great.
ZincStudies have shown that even a mild zinc deficiency can reduce your immunity. You can find zinc in red meat, nuts and chicken. If you do a lot of exercise then you might well be slightly deficient in zinc. You could try a zinc or ZMA supplement to boost your levels of zinc.
Vitamin D Vitamin D is needed by the immune system but it can be hard to get from most foods. Vitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin because the body can synthesize it in the presence of sunlight. Taking a Vitamin D supplement could be a wise move for athletes.
Drink Green Tea Green tea contains alkylamines which have been shown in studies to increase your body’s immunity to infections. There are many great health benefits that you can gain from green tea and it is a rich source of antioxidants. Try drinking 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day or alternatively you should be able to pick up a green tea supplement from most health shops.
