How to Boost your Immunity Naturally
Our immune system serves as our personal defence system, fighting off germs and safeguarding the body from harmful substances that could cause illness. It acts as an internal army, swiftly identifying and eliminating any threats that may compromise our health.
Enhancing your immune system can be challenging, but making certain dietary and lifestyle adjustments can bolster your body's natural defences. Ensuring that we're getting the basics right is key to a good functioning immune system.
Sleep well
While you sleep, your immune system releases proteins known as cytokines, which play a role in promoting sleep. Some cytokines are particularly crucial during times of infection, inflammation, or stress. However, inadequate sleep can reduce the production of these protective cytokines, compromising your immune response.
Manage stress
Elevated stress hormones prompt your body to divert resources away from your immune system. Prolonged elevation of stress hormones can amplify your body’s inflammatory response, which in turn can weaken your immune system's effectiveness. Learning stress management techniques allows you to unwind and deactivate the stress response before it becomes chronic.
Exercise
Engaging in moderate-intensity exercise can boost cellular immunity by enhancing the circulation of immune cells throughout your body. This primes your body to detect and respond to infections more effectively. Moreover, exercise typically raises your body temperature, and this elevation persists for a brief period after your workout. This temporary increase in body temperature, both during and after exercise, may inhibit bacterial growth and enhance your body's ability to combat infections.
Eat fermented foods
Did you know that up to 80% of your immune system is found in your gut? Fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and yogurt, contain large amounts of beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. Studies indicate that a strong gut bacteria network may aid immune cells in distinguishing between healthy cells and harmful invaders.