Written by I hate being sick. Having a bunch of kids in the house means I’m exposed to pretty much everything that’s going around. I do what I can to make sure my body is able to fight off as much as it can on it’s own, especially since I refuse to take antibiotics (I would of course take them if there was no other way, but I have yet to come across something I couldn’t either fight on my own or with the help of Mother Nature).
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Giving your immune system what it needs is worth the effort (and it’s not that hard). You will not only get sick less often, but you’ll feel better all the time even when you’re healthy. There are a few easy things you can do everyday that will help keep you from catching the office stomach flu next time it stops by.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. They’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fiber- all things that will help you. Click on my links for my top 5 fruits and veggies.
- Get a regular, consistent amount of sleep. You body needs that time to heal and restore your immune system (which is working nonstop for you). Not getting enough rest means your immune system can’t fully recharge itself. Aim for at least 7 hours a night.
- Get regular exercise. Working out strengthens your cardiovascular system, which in turn improves blood circulation (and all the good things that your blood carries around your body). Not only that but the lymphatic system- one important component of your immune system- requires physical movement in order for it to transport immune cells throughout your body.
- Eat organic whenever possible (as close to 100% as possible). And I’m talking about produce, but also meat. Chemicals and pesticides in conventional food make your immune system work overtime to try to remove them from your body. Get rid of as many as possible, and suddenly your immune system isn’t working as hard.
- Eat your Protein. Your body needs proper amounts of protein for building cells, so if it doesn’t have enough of what it needs, you immune system will come up short.
- Reduce your stress level. We all operate under certain levels of stress, and sometimes there’s not a lot you can do about it. But, if you can schedule yourself one activity each week, whether it’s a massage or something as simple as a nap, it will help your body to function more efficiently, including your immune system.
- Stay hydrated. We all know we’re supposed to be drinking 8 glasses of water a day. It’s easy to come up short though. The better hydrated your body, the better it can perform all the myriad of functions it had to do throughout the day.
- Avoid antibiotics if you can. I have a family member who will go out and get antibiotics at the first sign of a cold. She doesn’t care if it’s bacterial or viral (antibiotics won’t work on viral infections). She figures she just wants to be better and so she’ll take them “just in case” it’s bacterial. The more you use antibiotics, the less you immune system has to work and do it’s job. Not only do you get sick more often, but you end up needing antibiotics more often to fight things off. Since I vowed to give them up, I’ve managed to stay free of them for 7 years and my body has learned to fight off sinus infections that I never thought I could get rid of on my own.
- Probiotics and prebiotics. I’ve said this before, but taking care of your digestive system is key to a healthy immune system. All that good bacteria down there must be present and abundant to do it’s job. The problem is many of us do not eat the kinds of food that nurture good bacteria. Taking pre and probiotics will boost the bacteria in your lower digestive track and keeping things running smoothly.
- Supplements. Get your daily antioxidants (A, C, E, and ALA), a vitamin B supplement, an Omega 3 supplement, and consider adding garlic as well. Note: if you’re going to take garlic make sure you buy the odor-free ones or you won’t just keep keeps viruses at bay.
I really don’t get sick often, especially when you consider that at least one of the four kids seems to be sick at any given time during the school year. The 10 things I detailed here are all things I try to do for all-around health and I’ve seen and experienced what they have done for my immune system as well.
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