FOURTEEN WAYS TO NATURALLY BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM…

Here are fourteen ways to naturally boost your immune system to help keep yourself healthy.

Mix up your shower temperature. Changing it to either hot or cold every 2 minutes will boost your immunity by increasing two types of white blood cells.
Drink, drink, and drink. Your immune system relies on the water so drink lots.
Sleep – poor sleep can affect the immune system so the more sleep you get the better you will feel.
Laugh – we all need it nowadays but studies have shown it boosts energy, decreases stress hormones, improves immunity, and diminishes pain. I have a few videos of my granddaughter I watch if I feel like a giggle but there are plenty on YouTube.
Ditch the dairy – try to avoid dairy as it is mucus-forming and an inflammatory product.
Eat to Beat – include pumpkin and sunflower seeds, fish, and leafy green vegetables into your diet. Also garlic, red meats, lentils and berry fruits, papaya, kiwi, peppers, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. All types of leafy greens are great for the immune system.
Leave the sweet stuff alone as sugar can have an inflammatory effect and feeds yeasts and bacteria in our body which can prolong a condition or illness.
Get out in the fresh air – those who exercise moderately are 25% less likely to develop a cold compared to those who recently go out regularly.
Hug a tree as with Covid-19 most of us cannot hug our family and friends. Physical touch has been something we have missed greatly. It can help to decrease the level of the stress hormone cortisol in your body which decreases your immune system. If it is just the two of you living together at the moment then make sure you hug each other regularly.
Pump up your Vitamin D – according to the NHS The Daily Telegraph has reported that “vitamin D ‘triggers and arms’ the immune system”. It said that researchers believe that vitamin D plays a key role in boosting the immune system. It is important to have enough vitamin D to maintain a healthy body. Vitamin D forms in our skin in response to sunlight. However, care should be taken to avoid burning or over-exposure. Vitamin D is also found in foods such as oily fish, eggs, fortified margarine, some breakfast cereals, and vitamin supplements.
Start a new hobby – Woman & Home wrote “Getting into physical hobbies promotes good health,” Dr. Partha Nandi, a medical doctor and leading patient advocate, agrees. “These hobbies not only benefit the body but also help in making your mind more alert and sharp.” But you don’t have to get physical to reap the benefits. “Science is finding that the hobby diverts the focus of attention away from the problem causing the stress and places it on the hobby. People who engaged in leisure activities were 34 percent less stressed and 18 percent less sad during the activities.” Plus, “hobbies are a great way of meeting new people, and interaction is great for the spirit and body”. Also, check my post yesterday on how to find a new hobby here.
Don’t smoke – I’m sure I don’t really need to write why you should not smoke but just as a reminder – the NHS says – People breathe more easily and cough less when they give up smoking because their lung capacity improves by up to 10% within 9 months. Within 2 to 12 weeks of stopping smoking, your blood circulation improves. This makes all physical activity, including walking and running, much easier. When you stop smoking, your senses of smell and taste get a boost. Half of all long-term smokers die early from smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic bronchitis. This list is a small number of reasons to stop smoking but is very important with how the Covid-19 virus affects your health.
Maintain a healthy weight – start your new year with a determination and mission to lose some weight. You can only feel better. Why not raise some funds in the process and sign up for a charity.
Avoid alcohol. Take advantage of dry January and carry on avoiding alcohol for the time being.