Your immune system is like a shield against the outside world. It works hard to protect you from invading germs, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can make you feel lousy or even dangerously ill. But when your shield is weak, you’re more vulnerable to whatever comes your way.
To ensure that your immunity is as strong as it can be, there are some surprising ways you can boost your immune system. In this article, we’ll explore ten of those ways and discuss why they work so well in keeping you healthy.
1. Spend time with friends and family
One key way to boost your immune system is to spend time doing things that make you happy, and that includes hanging out with friends and family. Having a strong social support system helps to reduce the risk of chronic stress, which is one of the biggest factors that can affect your immune system.
Spending time with friends and family can also help you to stay connected and get perspective on different situations. This kind of connection can provide emotional and physical benefits that will help to boost your immune system.
2. Wash your hands
Another important thing you can do to protect your health is to wash your hands. Handwashing helps to boost your immune system by reducing the number of unwanted germs that may enter your body. This, in turn, can reduce your chances of getting sick or spreading illness to others.
You should wash your hands:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- After using the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After handling garbage or waste
- Whenever they look dirty
3. Eat probiotic foods
Your gut is home to about 70% of your immune system, so it’s important to keep the digestive system healthy. Probiotic foods are a great way to boost your immune system.
In case you didn’t know, probiotics are live bacteria and are found in food. They are good for your health, especially your digestive system. They can help improve gut health by restoring the balance between types of bacteria in your gut. Some probiotic-rich foods include raw (organic) yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha.
When choosing a probiotic food, look for one that contains live and active cultures. Also, be sure to check the expiration date. Probiotics are live organisms, so they can lose their potency over time. Choose a probiotic food that has been refrigerated to maintain its strength.
4. Get some sun
A surprising way to boost your immune system is to get some sun exposure every day for at least 10 minutes. The sun is a great source of vitamin D, which is important for immunity. Vitamin D helps to boost your immune system and keeps it functioning properly. It also helps to fight off infections.
Plus, getting some sun exposure can help regulate your mood and reduce stress levels. Soaking up some natural sunshine could be just what you need to give yourself a boost of energy and maintain your overall health.
5. Eat more healthy fats
Including healthy fats in your diet is important to boost your immune system. Healthy fats help to keep your cells functioning properly and help your body to absorb essential vitamins and minerals. Some good sources include organic avocados, extra virgin olive oil, wild-caught fish, nuts, and seeds.
Eating a diet that is high in healthy fats can help to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Including healthy fats in your diet can also help to reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to a number of health problems.
6. Try yoga or meditation to reduce stress
To boost your immune system, it’s critical to manage the stress in your life. One of the best things you can do to reduce stress is to try yoga or meditation. Each has been shown to be very effective in managing stress levels.
Yoga can help reduce stress by calming the body, mind and spirit. It helps to improve blood circulation, increase flexibility, and boost your mood. Meditation can also help reduce stress by providing a sense of peace and clarity, helping you stay in control even when faced with difficult situations.
Both activities can be done in the comfort of your own home or with an instructor. No matter what type of yoga or meditation practice you choose, it’s important to keep a positive attitude and focus on creating positive energy within yourself.
7. Get acupuncture or massage therapy
Acupuncture and massage therapy are two great things you can do to boost your immune system. Acupuncture helps to improve circulation and increases the production of white blood cells, which help your body fight infections.
Massage therapy increases the lymphatic system’s production of white blood cells and helps to reduce stress, which can weaken your immunity.
8. Spend more time in nature
Being outside and in nature is great for building a healthy immune system. Spending time in nature can be very calming and will reduce your stress levels. This can help to boost your immune system and make you less susceptible to illness. When you spend time outdoors, your body also gets vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D helps to fight off infections and keeps your bones strong.
So, make sure you get outside every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Take a walk in the park, sit in your backyard, or go for a hike in the woods. The fresh air and sunlight will do you good. All of these activities can help you to connect with nature and reap the benefits of being outside.
9. Laugh more often
One surprising thing you can do to give your body the support it needs to stay healthy and fight off infection is to laugh more often.
Yes, that’s right – laughter really is the best medicine. Laughter helps to boost your immune system by increasing the production of infection-fighting antibodies and white blood cells. Laughter also relieves stress, which can take a toll on your immune system.
So, if you want to keep your immune system strong, make sure to add some laughter into your life every day. Watch a funny movie, read a humorous book, or spend time with friends who make you laugh. It’s good for your health – and your soul!
10. Self-talk yourself to healthier behaviors
When it comes to our health, the things we say to ourselves matter. Research has shown that self-talk can influence our behavior, including our eating habits and how often we exercise – all important habits to boost your immune system.
If you’re trying to make healthier choices, start by talking to yourself in a positive way. For example, instead of saying “I have to go work out,” tell yourself “I get to go work out.” This simple switch can make exercise feel less like a chore and more like something you want to do.
In addition to being motivational, positive self-talk can also help reduce stress. And reducing stress is important for maintaining a strong immune system. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or down on yourself, take a step back and give yourself some encouraging words. You deserve it!
Learn more about how to boost your immune system
There are plenty of surprising ways to boost your immune system and make sure that your body is able to ward off disease and infection. From spending time with friends and family and laughing more often to more creative solutions such as acupuncture or yoga – there’s something for everyone when it comes to taking care of themselves.
Try out some of these tips today to boost your immune system and give yourself an extra layer of protection from the outside world!
Learn more about how a strong immune system is critical to avoid chronic and infectious disease.