7 Habits to boost our immune system

We can fight any disease or any kind of infection if we have a strong immunity. Everyone does not have a strong immuned system. There are many reasons of having a weak immunity. Few of them are:

Stress

Loneliness

Sedentary lifestyle

Excessive exercise

Smoking

Drinking excessive alcohol

Exposure to ultraviolet light

Poor diet with too much saturated fat and sugar leading to obesity.

Grief

Immune system helps to keep our body and mind fit and fine. Our immune system needs more than just the right kinds of food to live and work efficiently. The lifestyle habits that we acquire can optimise the functioning of our immune system.

1. Getting adequate sleep:

Sufficient amount of sleep is essential towards healthy living. Sleep and immune system are closely linked. Consistent sleep strengthens the immune system, whereas sleep deprivation can make us sick. During sleep, breathing and muscle activity slows down freeing up energy for the immune system to perform critical tasks, functioning as the body’s defence mechanism. The hormone melatonin is a sleep promoting hormone that is produced at night. This hormone counteracts the stress. Sleep deprivation interferes with the normal functioning of the immune system.

2. Healthy balanced diet:

It is very important to have a healthy and balanced diet to have a good immuned system. Our body functions as per the input we give to it. The food we eat is the fuel for our body.

3. Say NO to alcohol:

Alcohol adversely affects the body’s immune system and increases the risk of unhealthy outcomes. Therefore, people should minimize their alcohol consumption and better say NO to it, at any time.

4. Quit smoking:

We all know that smoking affects the immune system adversely. It increases the risk for many immune and autoimmune disorders (conditions caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy cells and tissues). Quitting smoking is the best action towards a healthy life.

5. Stay physically active:

Physical activity is what is immensely required in today’s sedentary lifestyle. We all should go forward walking, stretching, cycling and whatever movements can be done. Sitting in one place in immensely dangerous and should strictly be avoided. Physical activity helps flush out bacteria out of the lungs and airways. This might reduce the chance of getting a cold, flu, or other illness. Exercises change in antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). WBCs are the body’s immune system cells that fight disease.

6. Manage stress:

Managing stress is of immence importance and has become a necessity. These are the days where every moment we are stressed. What needs to be done to reduce the stress levels and stay healthy? Have a proper schedule for everyday, get out in the sunlight, spend time with nature, sing / dance, laugh aloud, read your favourite book, draw and colour and exercise. Relax, slow down, take a break. Talking about your problems with someone. Meditation is an excellent way of reducing stress.

7. Maintain a healthy lifestyle:

Our whole life, health, happiness and strength to fight diseases all come depending on the lifestyle that we lead. Having a proper schedule, having a proper hobby, diet, sleep and many more things come into the picture.

So, it’s very important to try and make our immunity strong if we want to live our life. So, by making small lifestyle changes, we can naturally boost our immune system and enjoy a healthier, disease-free life.