10 Natural Ways to Boost & Protect Your Immune System
Implement these simple, natural habits into your daily routine to help boost & protect your immune system and stay healthy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored a number of important topics in our society that most of us don’t normally spend much time thinking about. One of those issues is our own health – and particularly, protecting the health of your immune system.
Having a strong immune system can not only help you avoid contracting many illnesses but can also help you recover faster if you do catch something. The awesome thing about this is that your body actually WANTS to be healthy, so as long as you take good care of it and provide it with what it needs, most people can easily build a strong and healthy immune system.
Keep in mind that this won’t happen overnight; if you have been treating your body poorly and depleting your immune system via bad lifestyle habits, it will take some time to build it back up. You should expect to maintain good health habits such as those listed below for at least 6 months before your immune system is healthy and strong again.
Below are 10 natural ways that you can help to boost and protect your immune system so that it will, in turn, protect you when you need it most!
1. Improve Your Gut Flora
Adding probiotics to your diet in the form of yogurt or fermented food can help your gut work better. The better your digestion, the healthier you’ll be. The gut flora is very important for proper digestion of all nutrients and is now believed to be one of the main components of good health and a healthy immune system.
2. Eat Mushrooms and Garlic
Both of these foods offer antibiotic properties that can help improve your immunity against disease. Try to add them to most meals in some form. Tasty Tip: Try cooking up a bunch of garlicky mushrooms to have ready to top everything from toast to salad!
3. Eat More Cruciferous Veggies
Boost your liver function by eating more cruciferous vegetables which will help cleanse your liver so that it can work better to remove toxins. The best way to eat cruciferous vegetables for the greatest health benefits is to lightly steam them, and enjoy with a bit of butter or olive oil to help your body absorb their nutrients.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Food cannot digest, and your body cannot work properly without being fully hydrated. Unfortunately, most of us walk around partially dehydrated because we have learned to turn off our thirst. Adults should drink at least 64 ounces of filtered water every day – more if you sweat a lot or participate in strenuous activities. (And NO, coffee, soda, and alcohol don’t count!)
5. Support Your Adrenal Cortex
Eat healthy fats, and foods high in antioxidants and amino acids such as avocados, nuts, and berries to improve adrenal function. This aids in helping your adrenal glands continue to provide the right hormones to your body for a healthy immune system.
6. Add a Juice a Day
Get a good juicer and drink one vegetable and fruit juice serving each day. You’ll get healthy nutrients and calories for energy without stressing your digestive system.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is one of the absolute most important things you can do for your immune system! Most people need between eight and ten hours of sleep each night. The only way to know for sure how much sleep you need is to experiment with bedtimes and see how you feel the next day. Ideally, you should be able to go to bed and fall asleep quickly, and then wake up without the assistance of an alarm at the time you need. If you consistently feel groggy in the morning and have trouble getting out of bed, you’re probably not getting enough sleep.
8. Exercise Daily
Even a twenty-minute walk each day can help boost your immunity. Moving and breathing deeply will help you not only become healthier but feel healthier too. Sedentary jobs can literally kill you. If you have one, find excuses to get up and walk around as much as possible during the day, or get a standing desk to help keep you on your feet while you work.
9. Get Fresh Air and Sunshine Daily
Finding a way to breathe in fresh air and get plenty of sunshine each day is important. Sunshine gives you important vitamin D, and the fresh air will clear your lungs and help you relax so you sleep better at night (see #7 above).
10. Avoid Toxins
Stop smoking, drink alcohol in moderation, and try to use as few prescription drugs as possible. The more toxins you can avoid putting into your body, the healthier you’ll become over time.
By following these tips every day you’ll protect your immune system and feel better too. Nature always provides what you need to be healthy, so give your body the support it needs to do what it naturally does best! Your overall health will improve, and your risk of illness will be greatly reduced – no matter what health challenges you may face in the future.
