[LifeStyle] How to boost your immune system

[#Steeven.™]

A balanced immune system is key to protecting your body from disease.

In a year turned upside down by COVID-19, it seems our immune systems have received more attention than ever. However, many unhealthy behaviors brought on by the pandemic make it difficult for our bodies to fight infection.

But, first of all, how does the immune system work?

According to a publication from the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare, when the body has come into contact with a germ that causes disease for the first time, the immune system stores information about the germ and how to fight it.

When the immune system cannot fight these microbes so easily, the disease begins to manifest itself. Many of the symptoms you experience will actually be caused by your immune system's reaction to invading substances.

Often times, once your body has successfully fought off an infection, it will remember how to fight it, so the next time you come in contact with those germs, you won't get sick. This is true for chickenpox, for example.

This means that if we have a weak immune system, we can get infections more often than most people, and these diseases can be more serious or more difficult to treat.

There is no magic immune system booster that will boost your defenses overnight, but there are things you can do to protect your immune cells, which could reduce your vulnerability to infection. Taking care of yourself in body and mind is the best way to improve immunity, and the better your immune system works, the better your entire body will function.

 

Eat properly
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your body. Focus on whole foods, eating from all the key food groups, and avoid foods that are too salty, fatty, sugary, or processed.

There are certain foods that are believed to be particularly good for boosting immunity, but actually the most important thing is to eat a lot of different healthy foods in order to get various nutrients.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body. This vital nutrient is found in many foods, not just citrus. It is also found in green leafy vegetables, bell peppers, strawberries, carrots, and many more fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight infection. Find it in spinach, broccoli, almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts.

Vitamin B6 is essential for your immune system. Bananas, tuna and chickpeas are rich in this nutrient.

A daily dose of vitamin D is one of the few things you may need a supplement for, although eating fatty fish (or fortified cereals and spreads) and exposure to sunlight does help.