Since the disturbing global arrival of COVID-19, people have been circulating advice on how to boost our immune systems. We make suggestions to take zinc supplements, a one-a-day vitamin and elderberry, however, it’s just as critical to make sure you are living a healthy lifestyle. By making sound eating and health choices, we can lower our chances of getting sick, and if we do get sick we need to prepare our bodies to fight off these deadly viruses. According to Healthline, no lifestyle change or supplements can fully protect you against COVID-19. Make sure you are doing your part in social distancing at least 6 ft. apart and maintaining proper hygiene. Strengthening your immune system starts with making these key daily changes. Here are 3 ways you can boost your immune system naturally decreasing your chances of getting sick this winter.
Get a sufficient amount of sleep.
Having a poor sleep schedule and quality makes you more prone to getting sick. When you deprive yourself of sleep, you are contributing to weakening your immune system’s ability to defend itself. According to a sleep study led by University of California San Francisco PhD professor Aric Prather, subjects that got 6 hours of sleep or less were 4 times as likely to catch cold and flu than the other subjects. It's key to remember that adults need 7 plus hours, teenagers 8-10 hours and infants up to 14 hours of sleep for adequate rest.
Exercise daily.
When you neglect moderate exercise, you’re compromising the strength of your immune system. Make sure you are getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day not only for your immune health but your overall health. Obesity is linked to heart disease, diabetes and bacterial infections. Incorporating moderate exercise into your day is also said to significantly boost the effectiveness of vaccines. Prior to getting a flu shot, make sure you are getting regular exercise.
Stay hydrated.
Drinking more water is more than staying hydrated, it affects the entire body. To regulate bodily functions you might want to increase your water intake. When your body is functioning normally, you are in a better position to fight off illness. Dehydration plays a major role in weakening the immune system. According to New Vision Group, dehydration reduces the overall volume of blood and lymphatic fluids that are vital in a healthy immune system response. The muscles, skin, brain and kidneys can suffer from the effects of dehydration.
Making better lifestyle decisions in your daily life will have a positive impact on your immune health. When we get adequate rest, exercise moderately and drink enough water, we lessen our chances of getting sick without even knowing it. By subconsciously making these changes, we are setting ourselves up to defend against even more serious diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Implementing these life choices in our daily routines along with taking COVID-19 precautions will prepare our body’s first line of defense to fight for a longer healthy life.
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