Strengthen your body warriors – immune system
We owe a lot to our immune system. Isn’t it? The tiny army men or the immune cells within our body tirelessly kick and punch the infectious microorganisms and not allowing us to fall sick. But once in a while when the impurities manage to escape the punches, the infections take over and the entire system goes for toss. The immunity levels also decline as we age. WTN today takes a trip finding ways to restore body’s harmony and defence mechanism by strengthening its immunity level.
Bust the stress: Though researchers are yet to identify the exact link between stress and immune functions, it has been found that those under stress are often prone to minor and major ailments. So, it is very important to take care of emotional and mental health. You can try meditation or follow a few breathing techniques or even go in for regular massages to beat the stress.
Alter lifestyle strategies: Healthy activities and organised lifestyle are a brilliant way to up the body’s defence mechanism. This way you protect yourself from environmental assaults. Those who smoke, or consume tobacco or alcohol need to check their habits. While tobacco raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia, alcohol abuse is linked with low immunity levels and infected lungs.
Adopt good food habits: A balanced diet which includes a judicious proportion of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low saturated fat helps strengthen your body. Experts strongly recommend increasing the intake of Omega 3 and 6, zinc, minerals calcium, potassium, magnesium, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, and E. They also recommend consuming certain food items like carrots in raw forms, staying away from commercial foods that could have harmful substances like genetically modified foods, irradiated foods, food additives, artificial colours and flavours, preservatives, etc.
Get your beauty sleep: A sleep-deprived body generally is home to high levels of stress hormones, which leads to inflammation within the body. Hence, studies have always advocated sound sleep for 8-9 hours every day.
Follow a fitness regime: Following any regular exercise pattern contributes to good health and fight infections. It improves cardiovascular health, controls body weight and ups the body’s feel-good chemicals, which enables the body’s defence system to work efficiently.
Be loyal to garlic: Garlic is an excellent antimicrobial, anti fungal, anti-viral agent and an immune booster. Packed with powerful sulfuric compound allicin, vitamins A, C and E and minerals etc it guards the body against infections
Try immune-boosting herbs: Having herbs that strengthen the system handy is always a boon. Such herbs preparations and pills are easily found over the counters. Echinacea is one such herb that works efficiently against cold and flu. It has phenolic compound that raises the number of macrophages and T-cells or the immune cells. However, it is essential to know its flip side. Those with ragweed allergies may suffer from reactions – especially if injected. Some other immune-stimulants include astragalus membrane, Glycyrrhiza glabra or the licorice root which is extensively used in Chinese medicines, aloe vera and ginseng.
Be friends with probiotics: Probiotics are known to reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. That good bacterium in your gut is really essential to influence the immune system. Fermented food improves digestion and the live bacteria promote the growth of friendly bowel bacteria. You can have them in dairy products, drinks, cereals, energy bars, and other foods.
Love the Sun: Vitamin D guards us against a number of chronic ailments like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc. Those low on vitamin D may often suffer from respiratory infection.
Have a clean surrounding: Environmental issues emanating from air, water and other sources could affect the body’s internal harmony. Hence, it is essential to ensure a clean and healthy surrounding.
Say no to sugar: Sugar decreases the efficiency of white blood cells to fight infection. So, it is desirable to stick to natural sweeteners which are low on the glycemic index.
Replace coffee with green tea: Coffee may be rich in antioxidants but the high acid levels could affect body’s capability to assimilate nutrients like calcium, magnesium and potassium. So, green tea could be a healthier alternative.
-windowtonews
