6 Lifestyle Changes to Boost Your Immune System

You don’t need alternative remedies or expensive supplements to increase your immunity. Simple improvements in your lifestyle can work wonders. Adopting the following healthy habits may drastically reduce your susceptibility to seasonal germs that wreak havoc on your wellbeing.

Reduce Sugar

Did you know eating sugar reduces your body’s ability to combat diseases for over five hours? Your system’s typical response, when attacked by microorganisms, would be to send white blood cells to overwhelm and destroy them. If you’re exposed to germs or coming down with a virus and consume sugary food, your system can’t support you. Two hours after snacking on a candy bar, your immunity reduces by about 50%. If you want maximum protection from disease, reduce or cut out sugar.

Sleep Well

You might imagine you can get by with little sleep as long as you seem able to function. Even though you can carry out everyday tasks and cope with life, however, your immune system becomes stressed when you don’t have enough shut-eye.

You need six to eight hours of sleep a night to keep your immune system in excellent condition. Sleep deprivation hurts your health, making you susceptible to infections and illnesses.

Control Anxiety

Stress causes your immunity to crash. As stress hormones surge through your body, all effort goes into helping you prepare to handle the crisis, hence the term fight or flight. Your body stops fending off disease and pours energy into your ability to cope.

Mindful activities like meditation and yoga aid stress relief and boost immunity. You’ll also benefit from walking or spending time in nature, or listening to calm music. Other ways to combat anxiety include laughing with friends and spending time with supportive peers.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eat a nourishing diet including lean protein, whole-grains, fruits, and vegetables. Plus avoid processed foods and stick to organic, natural fare when possible. The best foods for your immune system are those often described as clean, which means they are in their original form and without added preservatives and colors.

Nutritionists often advocate a diet rich in colorful foods since they contain plenty of antioxidants and boost health. Also, dark purple vegetables and fruits such as beets and grapes are useful for helping people fend off diseases.