Boost Your Immunity & Stay Healthy with These Tips

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to spread and flu season in full swing, taking care of your health and strengthening your immune system have never been more important. And while there is no specific food or magic supplement that’s guaranteed to prevent you from becoming ill, these tips can help improve your general health and in turn boost your immunity.

Keep Calm and Carry On

During these uncertain times, lowering your stress might sound easier said than done. Finding ways to manage your stress or anxiety is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your immune health. When we’re stressed, our bodies produce extra hormones that can overtax the immune system. It’s key to find ways to decrease and manage your stress and anxiety. Try calming activities like meditation, yoga, or something more creative, like coloring or baking, to help keep your immune system ready to fight infection.

Catch Those Z’s

Focusing on sleep hygiene can also give your immune system an extra boost. When we’re well-rested, our bodies can fight infection more effectively than when we’re sleep-deprived. The CDC recommends getting seven or more hours per night for most adults. To help prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep, create a nightly wind-down routine, like taking a bubble bath or reading, and go to bed at the same time each night. Avoid digital screens, large meals, and intense exercise right before bedtime to help you relax before bed.

Drink Responsibly

While you may enjoy a drink or two while social distancing, it’s important to remember to consume alcohol responsibly, and in moderation. Research shows that people who consume alcohol excessively are more prone to respiratory illness and are likely to recover more slowly. Alcohol decreases the amount of healthy gut microbes contributing to the maturation and function of the immune system, leaving heavy drinkers with a greater likelihood of contracting respiratory illness. The CDC currently recommends up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.

Move Your Body

Keeping up with a regular workout routine is an important element to a healthy lifestyle. Exercise promotes good circulation, which helps boost immunity. As with any type of activity, it’s important to be mindful of the time you put in and the time you give yourself to recover. Overexerting yourself can create additional inflammation, which interferes with the immune system, that may be busy fighting off other infections. To keep it light, try doing yoga or going for a short walk around your neighborhood. 

Supplement Safely

Vitamin C and Zinc are perhaps the two most popular supplements for immune health, but they’re not the only vitamins that are important for a healthy immune system. Vitamin A helps maintain the structure of cells that form the immune system, while Vitamin B contributes to your body’s first response to infection. Vitamin D and iron help to kill pathogens. Maintaining a balanced diet is one of the easiest ways to ensure you’re consuming essential vitamins in a safe and healthy way. If you’re considering taking any vitamin supplements, the FDA warns that using supplements improperly can be harmful and that you should consult a health care professional before using any dietary supplements.

 

Check Your Sources Before Posting

With so much still unknown about COVID-19, it’s important to recognize potentially harmful misinformation. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok have all taken steps to limit or label misinformation about the Coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also added a myth busters page to help combat misinformation surrounding the virus. Remember that reliable online sources will typically rely on expert scientific analyses, have a mission to inform and protect the public, and are not promoting or selling a product.

By taking careful steps to maintain your immune health, you can help prevent the spread of infections. Let’s make it through this pandemic together!

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