Keep Your Immune System Fighting…
Your immune system is an incredibly complex system that I think is incredibly cool. The funny thing is, considering the importance of our immune systems, not many of us actually know a whole lot about it. When humans get sick, whether it’s a simple cold or a serious illness, it’s due to immune deficiency. There are lots of ways to help your already efficient immune system operating at its full potential. Here are some of my favorite ways, especially during the winter months
- Probiotics – A study at the Loughborough University showed that patients who took probiotics were almost half as likely to get a cold than those on a placebo. You can take probiotics along with your daily vitamin regimen in capsule form or you can eat foods like yogurt to up your probiotic intake
- Eat More Garlic – One of the substances found in crushed garlic helps fight viruses. The concentrated form of this substance, allicin, can be found in a supplement form, but just consuming garlic regularly can help boost your immune system
- Exercise – People who exercise five or more days a week spend 43% fewer days free of upper-respiratory infections. Exercise also boosts blood flow so that immune cells circulate throughout the body
- Get Enough Sleep – A study at Carnegie Mellon showed people who averaged less than 7 hours of sleep per night were three times as likely to get a cold when compared to those who logged 8 or more hours per night.
- Reduce Your Sugar Intake – When test subjects at Loma Linda University consumed 6 tablespoons of sugar from various sources – orange juice, honey, or sugary drinks –, their white blood cells (the infection fighters) lost the ability to fight off bacteria and viruses. Your immune system stays depressed for several hours after you consume sugar.
- Get Social – Despite the fact that humans spread cold and flu germs, the more social relationships you have, the less likely you are to get sick. Having a wide range of relationships can provide psychological benefits that boost the immune system and can help you maintain good health habits.
Hopefully some of these help you all keep your immune systems strong and fighting this winter season!
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