10 Ways To Boost Your Immune System

Your immune system is an important system of the body that protects you from infection and disease. The key to keeping a healthy immune system, as with all the systems in the body, is staying healthy and balanced. There are special things that you can do to ensure that your body has the best chance at remaining as healthy as possible. Here are 10 super awesome ways to ensure you’re taking care of your health and your immune system.

#1 Avoid Infection When Possible
You want to make sure that you wash your hands frequently with soap and water. You’ll also want to ensure that you clean and sanitize your living and work spaces with Lysol or other sanitation cleaner. Make sure you stay home when you are sick and avoid visiting with others while they are sick. Wipe down your carts at the grocery store and use hand sanitizer after a shopping trip. When you’ve recovered from an illness, make sure to switch out your toothbrush.

#2 Get Your Zs
Though it can be tempting to burn the midnight oil, one of the best things you can do for your body is get some real quality sleep. A healthy adult should strive for at least 8 hours of sleep each night. To improve your sleep quality, turn off electronics at least an hour before bed. Take a hot bath or do some yoga so that you can rest comfortably. Your room should be completely dark and chilled to around 68 degrees F to reap the best sleep environment. Sleeping enough can help all systems of the body recover and function properly each day.

#3 Take A Walk
Make sure you are engaging in some type of physical exercise at least 3 times per week. Walking is a great way to burn calories and reduce stress. If you’re a more seasoned athlete, think about cardio and weight-training as a way to pump up your body and your body’s systems.

#4 Add Green To Your Food Routine
If your diet is a little lax, now is the time to add in some healthy at every meal. Look at the list of superfoods, like blueberries, fish, olives and nuts. Or change it up and go organic. The best way to sneak in a powerful punch all at once is by mixing up a delicious green smoothie packed with your favorite super nutrients.

#5 Meditate and Relax
Stress can drive all kinds of negative responses in the body. Make sure to find something you love to do so that you can relax and give yourself a break. You might try yoga or meditation or enjoy reading a good book. Whatever you choose, craft a little time out of every day to stay calm and centered.

#6 Drink your H2O
Water. Water. Water. Rinse glass. Repeat. Your body is composed of a great deal of water and it needs that glorious H2O to function properly. Make sure you’re drinking enough water to compensate each day. Your systems will greatly appreciate it and you’ll feel better overall.

#7 Don’t Miss Checkups
It can be tempting to let your yearly doctor appointments go while you’re in the middle of a busy season of life, but it’s crucial that you keep your yearly exams. This will ensure that you’re not dealing with any problems that could be easily managed like an immune or hormone disorder. Most can be regulated by your doctor or with certain medications. But when left untreated can cause serious damage to your body that could interrupt your immune system from functioning as it should.

#8 Drink Your Tea
There are so many wonderful herbal teas on the market that can help you deal with a wide range of issues. There are antioxidant teas, special green teas and even teas, like Echinacea, that have been used to treat ailments for years. If you’re interested in starting a tea regimen, just talk to your doctor to make sure you don’t have any interactions.

#9 Cut the Smokes
If you’re still smoking, now is the time to cut it out. Cigarettes are a known carcinogen and their use causes cell damage in the body. This can keep your immune system from doing all the things it needs to do to treat infections, especially respiratory ones. Talk to your doctor about the best way to put them away for good.

#10 Check for Deficiencies
Certain vitamins can help aid your immune system. Check with your doctor to make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins like A, B6, C and E. You’ll also want to make sure you’re getting enough zinc, selenium, iron and copper. Usually, these will be satisfied with supplements or your daily multivitamin.

Your immune system is a vital part of your body systems. Make sure you’re giving your body everything it needs to do its job. Sure, your immune system slows down a bit as you get older but by making healthy changes like the ones above, you can help to give it everything it needs to function at its best level.