Boosting Your Immune System, Naturally

Immune system; words we have been hearing more and more frequently since the pandemic started. With the world in chaos, and no solid treatment for COVID-19, the best approach we can take is protecting ourselves and our immune system. This year has been insanely crazy, but many good things have come out of it. One of those things being the time most of us have had to work on ourselves. A lot of realization and slowing down has happened during this pandemic and being on lockdown for so many months has made me more conscious of how I take care of myself and what I put in my body.

 

In New York, pre-pandemic, life was always lived on the go. I was working and going to college full-time. I barely had time for myself, and the time I did have, I didn’t prioritize well. My immune system suffered and I became sick for many months. Thankfully it was nothing too serious, but I sure learned my lesson. I could have been a lot better to my body, and during the pandemic many of these things became more and more obvious. I am going to share with you the things I do on a regular basis to boost my immune system. Although they are a lot, once you do them frequently, they will become habit. Start with the more essential ones and work your way down the list. The difference will show, and you will feel better than before.

 

Photo: The Beet.

• Manage stress levels: Stress is known to be a silent killer; many illnesses come from stress. Make sure to take time to reflect, meditate, and ease your mind. Take it one day at a time, and remember that your problems don’t just disappear, no matter how much you stress. Go out and do things that you like. Whether it be spending some time in nature, just taking a moment to breathe, meditating, or journaling. I find that praying and exercising work wonders for me. When I am stressed I take a moment to breathe, I pray, and then I either do a pilates flow or go to the gym.

• Getting a good night’s sleep: Getting enough sleep is vital to our health and how we function. Getting adequate sleep energizes us for the day, and also aides our body functions and mood. Good sleep keeps both our brain and body healthy.
• Get moving: Exercise is also so important for our mind and our bodies. It boosts our mood, it keeps our bodies healthy and fit, and it helps our immune system. Exercise slows down the production of stress hormones, it flushes toxins out, and has anti-inflammatory benefits, amongst many other benefits. It is recommended to work out three times a week for at least thirty minutes. I personally feel my best when I work out six days a week, even if it’s just for an hour.
• Drink enough water: Water is the most important thing we can drink, and it’s just as important to drink enough of it. It is recommended to drink 8 cups of water daily. I drink about a gallon a day, it’s what my body asks for. It all depends on your body, how active you are, etc. Drinking enough water aides the immune system by flushing out toxins and carrying oxygen to blood cells. To ensure that you are drinking enough water, buy a water bottle that is suitable for your daily life and take it everywhere with you.
• Vitamins: Vitamins play a key role in boosting the immune system because they make it stronger and reduce the risk of cold and flus. I make sure to take vitamin C, vitamin D, fish oil, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E. A main one if you live in cold weather is vitamin D. It boosts your mood and aides your immune system. Living in New York made me realize that I needed to take it in the winter months. My body wasn’t feeling the same.
• Eat Well: What we put in our bodies matters. Think of your body as a machine. If it is not well oiled, it won’t function properly. Food is fuel, feed your body what it needs and make conscious choices. Eating cleaner and less processed foods help us stay healthier and more energized. People who don’t eat well tend to get sick easier because their immune system is not strong. Make sure to add veggies, fruits, and enough protein to your diet.
• Superfoods: Amongst the many are my favorites: ginger, wheatgrass, spirulina, citrus fruits, garlic, turmeric, and papaya. I often mix them and make concoctions that boost my immune system almost immediately. Every morning I try to take an ACV shot with: water, ACV, honey, lemon/lime, and turmeric. It makes me feel a lot better and it removes toxins from my system. Another is mixing papaya seeds in my smoothies, which is full of antioxidants. These superfoods have anti-inflammatory benefits and are full of vitamins.
• Probiotics: Probiotics are key when boosting your immune system. They inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria and promote the growth of natural antibodies. You can either take supplements or eat fermented foods which are high in probiotics. Personally, I prefer to eat foods high in probiotics such as kefir, kombucha, miso, and sometimes yogurt.

How are you guys boosting your immune system?

 

-XX,

Keren Nicole