Many people wonder what the secret to strong immunity is. We know that a healthy lifestyle is a great way to support a healthy immune system. We try hard to eat a balanced diet, exercise daily, and achieve enough rest and sleep each day.
Our immune system plays a crucial role in our health and wellness. It relies on our body’s overall health as a way of maintaining equilibrium. With a poor immune system, we can get sick very quickly.
The good news is, the experts are here to find out for us and give a few more things we can do, so we can do to start enjoying a healthier immune system.
Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine has been around for so long now, but many people still doubt its authenticity. But since many people still practice alternative medicine up until now, this makes us wonder if such strategies can indeed do our bodies any good or it is just all in the mind. According to science, certain alternative medicine does offer medical benefits, including increasing one’s immune system.
Take acupuncture therapy as an example. This type of alternative medicine dates back in China to 100 BCE. Special needles are used to puncture acupuncture points, which stimulates our central nervous system.
During acupuncture, biochemical changes occur, thus stimulating one’s body healing abilities. One major effect is that it helps boost the number of immune cells in your body. These include T-cells, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
This type of alternative medicine is also known to have anti-stress and anxiety properties. Experts claim that even one session can already help you become less susceptible to certain diseases. If you don’t mind being poked by fine needles, then you can consider such therapy to be included in your next to-do list.
Minimize Sugar Intake
Many people love eating sweet and sugary foods. While such delectable food items like cakes and candies can brighten up anyone’s day, these can also be the reason why your immune system is suffering. Unknown to many is that consuming too much sugar restrain immune system cells that aid in attacking bacteria.
A couple of sugary drinks can already last for a few hours in your system. This means the more sugar you consume, the longer it takes for your immune cells to recover. In short, too much sugar can lower your immune system.
This is one reason why people with Diabetes can get sick quickly if they cannot regulate their blood sugar levels. Studies have already concluded that maintaining a diet high in sugar can boost one’s susceptibility to autoimmune diseases in certain populations. It is advisable that you cut your sugar intake levels if you want a healthier immune system.
Stress Management
There are lots of reasons why managing stress should be part of your daily to-do. When you are stressed out, stress hormones can suppress your immune system’s effectiveness. This is since cortisol can lower lymphocyte levels, which are the primary immune cell types in the body.
Physical symptoms can appear when you are stressed out, such as headaches, back pains, dizziness, digestive problems, and even trouble sleeping. All these contribute to greater stress levels, thus further lowering your immune system. It would be best if you learned how to manage stress effectively to help boost your immune system.
Thankfully, there are many things you can do to start reducing and managing your stress levels. The following are some tried and tested ways to do this.
Exercise Regularly
Physical activity may involve putting additional physical stress in your body. But according to science, exercise does help in effectively managing stress levels. This is since such activity helps in boosting your mood, increasing self-confidence, improving sleep quality, and strengthening your immunity.
Make Positive Self-talk a Habit
One reason people are stressed out is that they are the first to criticize their work and themselves. The kinder you are to yourself, the easier it will be to manage your stress. Thus, make positive self-talk a habit.
Find a Healthy Stress Outlet
Finding a positive way to release your stress is a great way to manage your stress levels. Think of your interests or find something you can do to ease your stress. This way, you can stay productive and continue doing things you love while these serve as your outlet for relieving stress.
These are but three examples of things you can do to start improving your immune system. Don’t let your own habits be the very reason why you can’t stay healthy and happy. Learn to manage your stress, reduce your sugar intake, and consider alternative medicine in boosting your immunity.
