Everyone would love an optimum immune system to help them avoid colds and cut down on sniffles throughout the year. Your immune system does an amazing job of fighting off diseases and battling microorganisms, without you even noticing. Unfortunately, there is no one quick fix for getting a healthy immune system, and it takes a combination of lots of different things.
Immunity is complex, and various aspects of our daily lives and diet work together to boost the immune system. There is no one single entity to boost immunity; a healthy immune system requires harmony and balance with exercise, diet, age and lifestyle all playing important parts.
Here are a few ways to improve immunity by improving various aspects of your daily life;
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Immune health depends greatly on stress and anxiety levels. When you are stressed, it promotes inflammation in the body and also imbalances the function of immune cells. This is particularly prevalent in young people, and prolonged stress can actually suppress the immune system over time.
When you reduce your stress levels, you can help your immune system stay healthy. Stress levels can be managed using meditation, yoga, journaling, exercise and mindfulness practices.
Get Enough Sleep
Your immune system is closely tied to your sleep habits, and poor sleep quality or not enough sleep can be very detrimental to immunity. If you don’t often get enough sleep, or your sleep quality is poor, it can make you more susceptible to illnesses.
When your body gets enough rest, your immune system will naturally strengthen over time. Adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night, teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours, whilst children can need up to 14 hours. You can improve your sleep by getting into a bedtime routine, limiting screen time in the evenings and enjoying regular exercise.
Exercise More
We all know that exercising regularly has an endless list of health benefits, but it is also a great way of boosting immunity. Regular, moderate exercise will help your immune system to perform better than ever. Be mindful of the exercise you are doing, as prolonged intense exercise can actually suppress the immune system, so try not to overdo it.
Moderate exercise helps the immune cells to regenerate and also reduces inflammation in the body. Try to incorporate a brisk walk, bike ride, or swimming into your daily routine.
Cut Down On Alcohol And Caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine can both have a negative impact on your immune system. Alcohol consumption can reduce the function of your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and disease. Individuals who drink to excess regularly are more likely to have a negative impact on their immunity, but even moderate drinking can affect immune function temporarily.
The same can be said for caffeine. While you might feel great after a coffee in the morning, there are also unpleasant side effects of those boosted cortisol levels. This can lead to a lowered immune system.
Promote Gut Health
70% of immunity comes from the gut, so boosting gut health is one of the best ways of improving immunity. For ultimate gut health, you need to combine various nutrients, foods and bacteria which will all work together to promote a healthy immune system.
Here at Udo’s Choice, our range of products can be combined to offer the ultimate gut health formula. A combination of these products will work wonders for boosting immunity;
- Probiotics: Probiotics are the live bacteria that live in your gut and promote healthy digestion. Our probiotics are packed full of healthy bacterial strains that are specifically designed to reflect a healthy adult microflora.
- Enzymes: Natural digestive enzymes work to break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates within the body. Taking enzyme supplements like Udo’s Choice Digestive Enzymes can help to improve digestion. Ours contain seven specific enzymes for breaking down each major nutrient type.
- Greens: Udo’s Choice Beyond Greens offer the basic foundation for a healthy diet. It contains enzymes, protein, vitamins and essential fatty acids. Beyond Greens gives your body all the good stuff it needs to thrive, whilst also being an excellent source of antioxidants.
- Oils: Oils such as Omega 3, 6 and 9 are essential for heart, skin, joint and vision health. Our Ultimate Oil Blend Capsules are perfect for topping up your nutrition and boosting immunity through essential fats that cannot be produced within the body.