For healthy living, it is pertinent that the immunity of the body is improved. This helps the human body fight diseases. Individuals with weak immunity tend to fall sick more often than the ones with better immunity. There are numerous ways to boost immunity and they need to be earnestly practiced for healthy living.
Here are 5 ways to increase one’s immunity.
- Following a healthy diet
The first and foremost step towards achieving a healthy body starts to from the kitchen. The diet we follow must be effective and nutritional value. A healthy diet is the most important pillar for immunity. One should regularly include green vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and animal protein, and healthy fats in their diet.
A healthy diet not just ensures that the body is getting adequate energy but also the correct amount of micronutrients. Micronutrients are essential for many body functions and any lack in their concentration may lead to severe complications. Micronutrients are important for strengthening the immunity of the human body too.
Some of the important micronutrients responsible for supporting a healthy immune system are:
Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin E.
Vitamins are found in many food products that we regularly consume and hence maintaining a healthy diet is the key to building an effective immunity. Immunity Vitamins as supplements are also available in the market and are beneficial for those whose diet does not ensure the correct amount of it.
- Exercising
Exercising regularly is the second most important method to improve immunity after diet. Exercising regularly not just builds muscles and strength but also improves the flexibility and resilience of the body. It boosts the circulatory system of the body and improves the disease-fighting capability. Exercising also helps the mind to de-stress. This is important in the context of improving immunity. A stressed body is a weak link in the fight against deadly pathogens.
Regular to moderate exercising helps in increasing the heart function and the breathing capability of the body. This has a positive effect on the overall health of the body.
- Hydration
The human body, according to most research studies, is 60% water. Hence, water plays an important part in building the immune system and fighting diseases. The lymph which is an important component in the war against diseases largely consists of water and is circulated all around the body. A dehydrated body slows down its movement and renders it less effective. The body is constantly losing water through sweat, urination, and breath. By hydrating constantly, the balance of water in the body is being maintained.
- Sleep
The body is repaired when at rest and that is the reason why it is so important for it to have a sound sleep. To many sleep doesn’t seem to be like active exercise but it is the most important activity of the body. There are plenty of infection-fighting functionalities that are created and strengthened whilst we are at sleep.
The development of immunity is directly proportional to the amount of sleep we get. A body getting inadequate sleep is prone to disease and sickness because of the poor development of the immune system. Many suffer from poor sleep and it is therefore vital for them to take steps to improve it. While it is said that 8 hours of sleep is adequate for most, that number may vary from individual to individual. However, what is certain is that sleep is one of the most important of body functions and should not be ignored at any cost.
- Minimize Stress
As mentioned earlier, stress does irreversible harm to the body and mind. Stress may appear over some time or may come up suddenly. Chronic stress damages the body severely. The body to fight the stress factor creates a stress response. This stress response is created at the cost of the immune system. The latter is suppressed to build a mechanism that assists the body to fight stress. This is an opportunity for illness and diseases to strike.
There are different ways to fight stress and every individual has theirmethods to deal with it. However, identifying the method to de-stress is of urgent need and has to be done at the earliest before it starts taking a toll on the body. Activities like exercising, walking, breathing exercises, meditation go a long way in de-stressing, both the mind and the body. One needs to understand the signal the body is giving and act accordingly at the earliest and without much ado.
