Unless you live in a plastic bubble, you can not avoid all the germs of life. They are everywhere, especially at this time of the year.
Your best bet for staying healthy is to strengthen your immune system so that it can defeat all the microscopic invaders that can harm your health. So, we present you some simple and effective ways to strengthen your immune system.
Strengthen your defenses:
"Improving your lifestyle is your best tool," says Mary Saunders, LAc, founder of Boulder Community Acupuncture in Boulder, Colorado. You have heard that a million times, but for good reason.
Sleeping eight hours a night, reducing stress, exercising, staying hydrated and eating mainly whole grains, unsaturated fats and lean proteins gives your body the nutrients and energy needed to make immune cells.
Lose a few kilograms:
In addition to reducing your risk of heart disease, "losing just an inch of your height greatly increases immunity," says Moyad. It does this partly by decreasing inflammation.
Adopt probiotics:
"Most people do not connect their gastrointestinal tract with immune health, but in fact, it plays a major role in protecting our body," says Jeffrey Bland, PhD, co-founder of Bastyr University and the University of Ottawa. Institute of Functional Medicine.
Good bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis, found in probiotics, eliminate harmful and pathogenic bacteria in your gut, reducing the risk of infection.
Increase your vitamin D levels:
You've probably heard a lot about this nutrient, because more and more research is linking vitamin D deficiency to a myriad of diseases, including diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis and more.
Regarding the prevention of colds, there is strong evidence that vitamin D can increase your immune defenses against intruders, although the way nutrients work is uncertain.
Make room for mushrooms:
"Medicinal mushrooms, including reishi, maitake and shiitake varieties, have been valued for centuries for their immune-stimulating properties," says Bland.
They contain beta-glucans, complex carbohydrates that stimulate the activity of immune cells, especially macrophages and natural killer cells, that attack germs that can make you sick.