Top Tips to Keep your Immune System in Check this Fall

As we slowly move back into fall, some worries occupy our minds. Kids are going back to school, daily schedules are changing, and the awful flu season is creeping in. With both COVID-19 at its worst moment since the start of the pandemic and the annual flu season combined, a majority of what the next few months will bring for us is unknown. While vaccines are not 100% dependable or available for everyone, we still need to do everything we can to keep us (and those around us) as healthy as possible. Thus, maintaining any actions relating to health can be quite beneficial because let's face it, no one likes being sick. So here are a few ways we can stay healthy without having to disrupt our day.

Getting Enough Sleep

Jumping between work and the kids, getting enough sleep at night is often passed off as unimportant these days. In 2016, the CDC found that one-third of the U.S. population was not getting enough sleep. A minimum of seven hours is needed every night for better health. Insufficient sleep can cause short-term and long-term effects, such as memory problems, moodiness, car accidents, and even mistakes in the workplace. If we happen to develop some kind of viral infection, then those cells will activate integrins (sticky type of protein) to attach and kill the infected cells. However, we need to get an adequate amount of sleep for this to occur. Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of California Davis Kimberley Hardin, MD, leaves us all with a reminder that “sleep should leave you feeling refreshed, not groggy and struggling.”

Nutrition and Hydration

Growing up, we were always told by adults to take enough vitamins to stay healthy. And it turns out they were right. Consuming a nutrient-dense diet and staying hydrated goes a long way in preventing (or fighting) a virus. Here are some of the main nutrients to focus on when boosting the immune system:

Proteins: Give us energy and help us feel full longer

Fibers: Contribute to the feeling of fullness, food digestion, and help the body absorb nutrients

Healthy Fats: Meet the daily calorie intake easier (great for frontline workers!)

Vitamins and Minerals: Build a healthy immune system

Our immune system is highly dependent on the nutrients in our bloodstream. And our bloodstream is made of mostly water, therefore making it even more crucial to stay hydrated. Just as water flushes out toxins in our bodies every day, water functions the same when we have a virus. In addition, drinking alcohol and coffee and working out can cause us to lose additional water from our bodies. If we do these dehydrating activities, then we need an extra boost to maintain their electrolyte levels to sustain hydration each day. Thus, DrinkLyte is a wonderful product that will help with rehydrating, being IV-effective since it employs the Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). The ORS is used frequently in cases with diseases that cause dehydration and loss of electrolytes. This electrolyte hydration drink mix can also be consumed at any time (whether we are drinking or not). Ultimately, both nutrition and hydration help with feeling full, hydrating, and staying energized throughout the day; therefore, it’s important to add both health factors for a healthy lifestyle and immune system.

Social Drinking boosts Immune System

Stress, whether we feel it mentally, physically, or emotionally, can be extremely damaging to the body. Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living David Tolin, PhD, said that “excess levels of stress produce hormonal changes that lower the body’s resistance to colds and other infections.” Luckily, there are a few ways to de-stress while boosting our immune system. For instance, socializing with friends is very important for our mental health. Not only will taking time out of our busy schedules to catch up with a friend improve our mental status, but this will also boost our immune system.