If you’re looking for ways to boost your immune system then this is definitely the post for you! We’ve been trying various different ways to boost ours after a start to the year that was filled with sickness bug after sickness bug.
We had a terrible start to the year as far as illness is concerned – from the week before Christmas until the around the end of February, one or more of us was ill in the house. It seemed like we were just passing germs around between us with almost no break.
I knew it was something that the doctor couldn’t help with or prescribe anything for as it was just the usual cough and cold symptoms but the fact that we just couldn’t seem to shake it prompted me to call the doctors for some advice. He said it was something he was seeing more this year than in previous years because of all the different bugs floating about and that what was happening was that each time we got a bug, our immune system was weakening a little so we were all more susceptible to the next bug that came along. This continued to happen throughout January and February and by the time we were bug-free, we were absolutely wiped out.
I’m determined that this isn’t going to happen again which is why I’ve been focusing on boosting our immune systems to make them as strong as possible so they can fight off as many bugs as possible in future!
Here’s my five top tips on what you should be doing if, like me, you want to boost your immune system!
Ditch the Drink
Not one for the kids but for the grown-ups, it’s worth considering the impact that drinking alcohol can have on your immune system. I’m not sure of the exact science but several studies have confirmed that excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to impairment of the functioning of the immune system.
Alcohol has also been linked to an increased susceptibility of lung infections, so for me, it’s something that I’m consciously trying to avoid unless it’s a special occasion and even then, I’m way past the age where getting drunk appeals. If I were you, I’d stick to consuming more of water-based drinks to keep your body hydrated and your organs functioning at their best.
Get More Sleep
Believe it or not, but not getting enough beauty sleep can also have a major negative impact on your immune system, and cause an increase in the production of a hormone called cortisol, which is known to suppress the functioning of the immune system. Make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep on a daily basis for the optimal functioning of your immune system. If you struggle to sleep, my homemade essential oil sleep spray could be just what you need as could my top tips on how to get a good night’s sleep.
Grab the Probiotics
I’m a total probiotic convert now even though I always thought they were a bit hocus pocus in the past. Probiotics are great for boosting your immune system and although I don’t know the science (there’s a great explanation here though) I do know that they contain a lot of healthy bacteria which help boost your immune system naturally. You can go the easy option and buy the probiotic supplements or you can buy the probiotic yoghurts or drinks in the supermarket. I’m not going to lie, probiotics aren’t particularly frugal but one thing I won’t put a price on is health and we’ve definitely noticed a difference since we started on these.
Try Some Garlic
Garlic is one of the most powerful immune boosters around, and including more of it in your everyday meals is a surefire way to kick-start your immune system. It also has powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial activity, and when added to foods, it can help protect your body against a range of infectious agents -add that to the fact that it tastes fab and you have an immune-boosting winner! If you’re not a garlic fan then you can get odourless garlic tablets you can take that will do the same job.
Get out in the sun
Exposure to sunlight is helpful for your body in many ways- for starters, it stimulates the production of vitamin D in the body, which significantly reduces your risk of being affected by respiratory disorders. Getting at least 10-15 minutes of exposure to sunlight on a daily basis can work wonders in improving the strength of your immune system. Just don’t forget to stay safe in the sun and use sun protection where you need to.
Hopefully, you can wok these five tips into your daily life and help boost your immune system to avoid as many bugs as possible!
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