‘How to increase immunity’ or ‘natural ways to boost immunity’ are much sought after questions. After all, your immune system plays a key role in keeping you safe, sound and healthy, acting as a shield against the diseases and allergies. A complex network of cells and proteins, our immune system is what defends our body against incoming infection. It goes without saying that there is no one foolproof way to know what works or not for the health of our immune system, mainly because research has still not been able to interconnect the many dots that exist in the area. However, researches are always exploring how our lifestyles, eating habits, sleep patterns and exercise impacts our immune system. All in all, it gives you an added advantage to lead a healthy life as every body part, including the immune system, functions better when we give it the much-needed care. With that thought in mind, we curated a list of healthy habits that act as natural ways to boost immunity. Like stated earlier, these are not fail-safe but are agreed upon to be the best ways to move towards a healthy lifestyle that keeps in mind the factor of how to improve immunity. Continue reading to know all there is on how to increase immunity and the natural ways to boost immunity.
Get Enough Sleep
Are you clocking in your daily 8-9 hours of sleep? Getting enough rest and ample sleep have a lot to do with the state of your immune system, with studies proving that a short duration of sleep could make you more receptive to diseases. Not only is it one of the natural ways to boost immunity, but it is also important for feeling refreshed and carrying on your everyday routine. Switch off your phone and other devices, relax and give yourself time to invest in this essential step to boost immunity.
Eat Healthy Food To Boost Immunity
It goes without saying that a healthy diet plays a key role in building your immune system and is one of the natural ways to boost immunity. Add a balanced diet—one that gives your body all the essential nutrients— to your routine so that all essential nutrients are received by your body. Along with that, don’t forget to have a timely meal plan, a must for a healthy lifestyle.
Stay Hydrated
It may be free of calories and sugar but water is one of the most important components. The adult body weight comprises 60% of water, so it is only natural how important it is to the human body. How to improve immunity? Keep yourself hydrated, for a lack of the fluid will affect your digestion, mood and kidney function, amongst other things. This is one of the easiest natural ways to boost immunity.
Reduce Sugar Intake
Refined sugar is something that we all consume on a daily basis, but have you thought of the implications it has on your body and immunity? High sugar intake can lead to inflammation, type 2 diabetes and increase the risk of heart disease. If the question of ‘how to boost immunity’ has been on your mind, keep your sugar intake limited to 2 spoons a day, otherwise relying on natural sugar to get your fill.
Add Supplements To Your Diet
Supplements are brought into the picture to give you an adequate dose of the vitamins and minerals, think Vitamin D, C, Zinc and more. It might aid you in preparing your body by giving it what it lacks, but it’s always advisable to consult your doctor before adding a supplement to your diet.
Home Remedies To Increase Immunity
How to boost the immune system naturally or how to increase immunity are some of the widely asked questions. The natural ways to boost immunity also rely on home remedies. Take a look at some of the home remedies to increase immunity.
Citrus Fruits
Vitamin C helps build your immune system and so to rely on a natural intake, you might want to include citrus fruits in your diet as one of the natural ways to boost immunity.
If the question of ‘how to increase immunity power in the body naturally’ has been on your mind, oranges, lemons and guava are some fruits you can add to your diet.
Get Some Sun
In terms of the discussion on ‘how to increase immune power’, Vitamin D plays a major role in producing antibiotics in our body. The natural source of Vitamin D is the sun, so don’t forget to soak in some.
Add Turmeric
The yellow spice is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, so when you are cooking at home, remember to add a dash of it to your recipes. Further, you could also add it to your drink—think the popular haldi milk—for gaining its benefits.
Include More Vegetables
How to increase immunity through veggies? Cruciferous vegetables, think broccoli and cabbage, help the liver aid in the natural detoxification process of our bodies, while also imparting enough fibre, so make sure that you add them to your diet plan.
Minimize Stress
High-stress levels can affect your body, mind and the way you function. If left unchecked, it can trigger a number of health issues. Amid the hustle of life and work, make sure that you are not straining yourself out. Meditation, journaling, yoga and outdoor sports are some of the activities you might want to indulge in to relax, amidst many others.
Exercise To Boost Immunity
When talking about ‘how to increase immunity’ or ‘how to improve immunity’, one cannot leave out exercising. Sweating it out helps get rid of the toxins, with moderate exercise helping you reduce inflammation and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
Quit Smoking
Largely impacting every organ of the body, quitting smoking can cut down the risk of several diseases in your body, leading to a healthier lifestyle. For those wondering about how to increase immunity, quitting smoking is one of the first steps to undertake for a healthier heart, lungs, skin, improved immune system and more.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Reducing alcohol consumption reduces the risk of heart and liver related issues. In the bid to boost immunity and lead a healthier life, it’s important that you avoid going overboard with alcohol, limiting your consumption and in turn getting solutions on how to boost immunity.
FAQs
Here’s taking a look at some of the most frequently asked questions.
What is the function of an immune system?
The immune system is a collection of structures, cells, and processes that together protect the body against infections, diseases and harmful pathogens. Its function is to work towards removing the harmful cells or said pathogens from the body.
What are signs of a weak immune system?
The vulnerability of a number of diseases and constant fatigue are signs of a weak immune system and in case of repetitive illnesses that you find yourself prone to, you should immediately consult a doctor. Due to the high risk of infections, a person with a weak immune system can fall prey to pneumonia, cold, cough, skin infections, recurring fever, digestive issues, diarrhoea and other health problems.
What causes a low immune system?
An immune system disorder, immunodeficiency or lowering of immunity due to excessive stress, smoking or alcohol consumption are some reasons for a weak immune system, amongst others. In some cases, it can also be a pre-existing condition in a person.
How to test immune system strength?
There are specialised medical tests to determine the strength of an immune system. In case you are constantly feeling fatigued or find yourself falling sick at frequent intervals, consult a doctor to help you diagnose the issue.
Does coffee weaken your immune system?
There is contrasting research on the subject but in summary, while one-two cups can benefit the immune system, consuming excessive amounts of caffeine can have an adverse effect on your immunity and also trigger stress. Some other additional issues can be anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, indigestion and irritability. Hence, when it comes to ‘how to boost immunity’, it’s advisable to stick to a measured amount and not overdose on caffeine.
Also Read: How to increase platelet count
What drinks boost your immune system?
There are a number of juices and drinks that you could include in your diet as one of the natural ways to boost immunity. Orange, grapefruit, green apple, carrot, ginger, tomato, strawberry, mango, kiwi and citrus fruits are great ingredients to include in your diet.
Do you plan to include any of these in your routine? Let us know in the comments below.
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