When's the last time you thought about your immune system? Most of the time you figure it must be working properly since it's not often that you're sick with the cold or flu. And for the most part, you're right.
But what if you've been feeling tired or lethargic lately? What if your wounds take a long time to heal?
What if your herpes outbreaks are occurring more frequently or you're experiencing other types of infections or allergies? These are other indications that your immune system isn't working as it should. So stop blaming the kids, the job or the season.
According to Dr. Lawrence Wilson who specializes in nutrition, "To strengthen the immune system, one must address the needs of the whole body. A strong immune system is essential for health. It is a very complex system of the body...Factors that impair the immune system include nutrient deficiencies, contaminated air, water and food, unhealthful lifestyles and too much exposure to harmful microbes. Other factors that weaken the immune system are negative attitudes and emotions and the presence of toxic metals, toxic chemicals and biological toxins in the body. Others are sluggish metabolism, lack of rest and sleep, excessive stress or too much exercise. As these causative factors are removed or corrected, the immune system improves."
Here are 5 lifestyle changes you can implement right now, regardless of your age, which may help give your immune system a boost. They are, in no particular order:
Eating Right
To keep your body (including your immune system) running like a finely-tuned car engine, you need to make sure you give it the proper fuel. In humans, our fuel comes from the food we eat. After we eat, our digestive system breaks food down into carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and fats.
The circulatory system transports these nutrients via the bloodstream throughout the body. With the right type of fuel, everything works right.
If you're not eating a nutritionally-balanced diet, you're not providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. You need to start eating more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, "good" fats, whole grains and calcium-rich foods and you need to lower your intake of high-fat and processed foods, sugary snacks, and starches. And if you're not drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water per day, then it's time you start!
Exercising
Your body needs moderate exercise too. You don't need to buy fancy new exercise equipment and you don't even have to join a gym.
Incorporating moderate exercise into your life is as easy as walking more. Parking further away from store entrances, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking during your work breaks are simple ways to get your heart beating faster, which increases the efficiency of the circulatory system and triggers the brain to release more "feel good" chemicals. All these actions can help strengthen your immune system, making it better able to fight off illness.
Reducing Stress
When you're stressed, your immune system takes a direct hit. When the immune system is compromised, its army of white blood cells, antibodies and other chemicals isn't able to do its job efficiently. Stress is the immune system's signal that it's time to go to work. When you're always feeling stressed, your immune system is constantly in a battle-ready state. After a while, it becomes weary and less effective at fighting off foreign invaders like viruses, bacteria and fungi. You've got to get rid of the stress and one simple way is by adding moderate exercise into your routine. Other ways to reduce stress include taking a Yoga class, learning deep breathing techniques, changing occupations, or getting out of a bad relationship. You need to do whatever's necessary to fight the effects of stress and you need to do it now!
Getting More Sleep
Most women place incredible demands on their bodies every single day. With all the responsibilities women have by day and often times well into the evening hours, most are getting fewer hours of sleep than their bodies need. Maybe you think you're doing just fine on 4 -5 hours of sleep (or less!) each night, but you're not. Even as adults, the body needs 8 - 10 hours of sleep to operate efficiently.
Try Supplements
In addition to the the 4 simple steps we covered earlier you may also want to also explore quality supplements to help boost your immune system. For instance Immunitril(tm) is an amazing new herbal formula that may be just what your immune system needs to keep colds and flu away this season. You'll can find out about the quality ingredients of Immunitril(tm) at select etailers and online stores like Amazon.com and the www.BodeStore.com for more information.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not medical advice. Always consult with a health care professional before taking health or food supplements or beginning an exercise routine.
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About the Author:| Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on a health or fitness program. |
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