Your immune system is your body’s first line of defence and helps you to heal, stay well and feel at your best as part of a healthy lifestyle. Everything from your skin through to your energy levels and being able to avoid illnesses like cold and flu.
Looking to boost your immune system naturally? Here are some ways you can support your immune system.
Getting enough sleep
Sleep is essential for your health and wellbeing. If you’re getting less than 6 hours a night, then you’re more likely to get ill. It doesn’t just help with the health of your body either. It helps your brain health, concentration and even your hair, skin and nails. Getting enough sleep also helps to press pause on inflammation.
If you find getting enough sleep a struggle, reducing screen time, getting into a sleep routine and blocking out light can help you to get to sleep. Creating a relaxing, calming environment can help you get enough rest for your immune system.
Drink enough water
Making sure that your body is hydrated and that you’ve drank enough water is important for your overall health. It also helps to keep things like headaches and dehydration at bay, and seriously benefits your hair, skin and nails.
Ideally you want to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, but this depends on the weather, how much exercise you’re doing and the rest of your diet. If you feel thirsty, you should grab a drink and keep going until you’re not thirsty. Water is better for you than drinks that include added sugar.
Lowering your stress
Stress can seriously affect your body and mind, including your immune system. Long term stress can lead to inflammation, imbalances in how your immune system functions and can affect your ability to focus.
If you’re struggling with managing your stress, you can look at making some lifestyle changes or removing the source of stress from your life. Meditation, exercise, journaling, yoga, mindfulness and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you to deal with it. Sometimes self care isn’t enough - a counsellor or therapist can also help you to work through things that are stressing you out.
Balancing out your diet
Eating a health diet filled with fresh, nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes is important for your immune system. Whole, organic foods are a good choice to support your natural immune system, as are fermented foods that are rich in live bacteria and yeast that can support your health.
If you find it difficult to get the right balance of vitamins and nutrients, taking supplements and probiotics can help you to rebalance. Getting your diet right can help everything from your immune system through to inflammation and your natural glow.
Exercise that you enjoy
A little bit of exercise can help to boost your immune system, as well as your overall health and your stress levels. For most people 3-4 hours of moderate exercise per week is enough to support their health and immune system.
One of the biggest things when it comes to exercise is doing something that you enjoy and that fits into your routine. You’re more likely to stick to it if it’s an activity that you can motivate yourself to do regularly.