5 Ways to Supercharge your Immunity

Before we dive right into the tips to supercharge your immune system, it is important to know and discuss how to recognize a weak immune system. This will insure that you are aware when these potential signs develop in you or your loved ones. Do any of these signs or symptoms sound familiar to you?

Your stress level is consistently high. High levels of stress and anxiety naturally weaken your body's defenses. Studies have shown that just having anxious thoughts can weaken your immune system in just half an hour.

You always have a cold. If you frequently have cold and flu symptoms this is a sure sign that your body's defenses are weak. Flushing and detoxing your system will increase protection from mucus forming disease in the body.

Your wounds are slow to heal and lead to infection. Slow wound healing is common in individuals who have chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease but if you experience this without any diagnosis, the following tips are all safe and natural ways to combat infection.

A strong immune system is your best defense for fighting pathogens and disease. The key responsibility of the immune system is to keep your body safe from illness and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. It's made of various organs, cells, glands and proteins that neutralize and defend. In this article we will discuss all natural, fool-proof ways to supercharge your immune response. Adopting these measures will increase disease and infection resistance and insure a safe recovery if sickness happens to occur.

Staying hydrated can boost the overall health of your body. Drinking water helps carry immune system cells, known as white blood cells throughout the body. Being dehydrated can reduce your physical performance, mood, focus, digestion as well as the diminish the function of your heart and kidney. When you are dehydrated, you may experience headaches, and extreme thirst. Even the smallest amount of thirst is your body is signaling a need for fluids. It is best to limit or avoid your intake of diuretic or water reducing beverages like caffeine, sodas and artificially sweetened juices. Water is best for you because 60% of the human body is consists of water and it naturally has no added calories.

A healthy diet of whole foods will boost your system with rich antioxidants and nutrients. There are three main vitamins that your immune system needs: Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, bell peppers and strawberries. Green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are a great source of vitamin B6, along with chickpeas, salmon and tuna. Vitamin E can be found in nuts and seeds but is recommended to be taken in moderation. Gut health and immunity are closely interrelated. Adding probiotic foods to your diet such as yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi will aid in the production of healthy bacteria while keeping the bad bacteria at bay.

Physical activity naturally circulates antibodies and white blood cells which helps the body detect bacteria and flush out toxins that creep into your lungs and airways. Exercise increases the release of endorphins, hormones that reduce stress and creates feelings of pleasure. Taking a brisk walk, swimming, jogging, bike riding or even hiking three to six times a week can positively boost your immunity in a powerful way! Adversely, working out too hard, too often, can weaken your body's defenses. Strength training is recommended no more than twice a week.

As you may know, smoking damages the lungs directly by clogging your airways with smoke and tar. Nicotine and marijuana both decrease your lungs ability to fight off bacteria while increasing inflammation in the body. Vaping and hookah inherently counts as smoking being that it directly affects your lungs, the two main gateways into the body. The best advice here is to just stop smoking altogether.

Lack of sleep can cause your body to experience higher stress levels, which, as we stated before, weakens the immune system. On average teenagers and adult should try to get around 7 or 8 hours of sleep to function effectively. Young children and infants may need a maximum of 14 hours to function properly, this includes naptime. When you are asleep, your body has an opportunity to heal, rest and regenerate. Studies have shown that when asleep, your body regenerates immunity protection cells known as T-cells. When you're sleep-deprived, your body makes stress hormones like cortisol that keep you awake and alert ultimately suppressing your immune system.

Overall, there are many ways to boost your immunity, most of which are common knowledge. Exercise regularly, stop smoking, get enough sleep and do your best to manage your stress. These are common sense ways to stay healthy, but without consistency, your body won't perform at its best. Making the decision to practice a healthier lifestyle and supercharge your immune system will not only add a layer of defense to your personal life, but it will bring added protection to the lives of those all around us.