How to Boost Your Immunity

We have heard a lot about our immunity. Our immunity if the defence systems of our body, it helps the body fight against disease Microorganisms, but it sometimes fails, and when it does, germs invade resulting in illness. We have heard a lot about our immunity. Our immunity if the defence systems of our body, it helps the body fight against disease Microorganisms, but it sometimes fails, and when it does, germs invade resulting in illness.

The winter season signifies blocked nose, coughs and colds. Kids come from school sneezing and coughing, the chorus of bless you is raised as a soothing balm.

We hope and pray for a remedy. My favourite soothing companion during this period is none other than fresh ginger and lemon, with a squeeze of honey. This mixture does provide temporary relief, but what happens after the hotness wears off? Kids have missed several days of class due to cold caused by virus. Mums have had to endure sleepless nights feel helpless.

The elderly, kids and other groups of people with certain illness, diabetics, immunity illness like Rheumatoid Arthritis are given a yearly shot of flu jab to help boost their immunity.

So the question is why are we susceptible to constant colds? What is missing? How can we get it right? And Can we prevent it?

Research

According to the study conducted by the “china project”, having a great health isn’t by chance, there is a relationship between diet, lifestyle and disease, they also found that heredity was a very small factor for disease.

The study shows that although our genetic heritage may dispose us to certain diseases, diet and lifestyle factors are largely able to control whether these genes ever lead to disease.

Several other results are still emerging on the effects of lifestyle on immunity: Factors such as diets, age, stress level, herbal supplements, exercise etc. are still being researched with a view towards determining their effects on our immune function.

While we are wait for the conclusion to these various research I think we have enough evidence to support the fact that a change in lifestyle choices is the best step to take to bring about a strong immunity

What Can We do? Specific changes to our lifestyle may boost our immunity:

1.    Drink Less Alcohol: It is generally known that excessive consumption of alcohol increases exposure to infections.

2.    Eat Plenty of fruits, vegetable, nuts and seeds: eating a combination of these daily will provide your body with a daily dose of vitamins, nutrients and minerals. So be sure to stock up your basket when you go shopping.

3.    Avoid Smoking: smoking raises the risk of pneumonia and bronchitis.

4.    Take supplements: as mentioned in previous article: Should we? Should we not? Supplements are recommended where we are not able to get enough from the food we eat. The recommended immune boosters are supplements with the following:

·         Echinacea

·         Garlic/thyme

·         Ginseng

·         Licorice root

5.       Probiotics: Probiotics are recommended for gastrointestinal infections.  Scientist have found a relationship between good bacterial and our immunity. Probiotics are good bacterial which resides in our digestive tract, but at the moment there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support its helps with the immune function.

6.       Reduce your stress level: One of the main reason we feel run down is due to lack of enough sleep and increase stress level. When we are stress our brain releases Cortisol, and it has been shown that prolong elevation of this hormones suppresses the immune function.

7.       Regular exercise is also a good way to maintain overall good health. It improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases. Exercise can contribute to general good wellbeing and therefore to a healthy immune system. Exercise may contribute directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.

8.       Get plenty of Sunshine: The skin’s production of Vitamin D is triggers with exposure to sunlight. 10-15 minute of exposure to sunlight daily is enough to get our daily supply of vitamin D. From November through February, we have very little sunlight, therefore supplements rich in vitamin D are recommended to boost our levels

9.       Mushrooms: Some mushrooms have been found to have immune boosting properties: try shiitake and maitake. A study by the national library of medicine showed that concentrated extract of shiitake enhanced immune function in women with breast Cancer.

In conclusion: My advice to you is to adopt a healthy lifestyle one that will ensure you are in top tip health all year round. As a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis I do take regular supplement to boost my Vitamin D levels, as well as several others to support my immune function.

Also reduce your stress level and aim to leave a more peaceful and simple life.