If we’ve learned anything over the past two years, staying healthy and keeping your immune system strong is key to lowering your risks for illness. You might not even think about the immune system until you are sick. However, when this complicated system isn’t working correctly, you’ll notice it immediately with signs and symptoms of illness – congestion, cough, fever, lethargy, soreness, headache, etc.
Thankfully, there are some things that we can do in our daily lives to strengthen our immune systems and reduce our risks of getting sick. Check out the suggestions below to help improve your immune system!
- Stay hydrated – Mild dehydration here and there won’t cause you to get sick; however, it will contribute to symptoms like headaches, brain fog, irritability, and digestive complications. Prolonged dehydration, however, has the potential to lead to illness.
- Prioritize sleep – Managing your sleep and ensuring a good night’s rest is critical. Poor sleep may lead to less nutritious food choices, increase cortisol and inflammation levels, contribute to poor mental health, and reduce your body’s ability to fight infection.
- Exercise – Regular movement influences cell regeneration and lessens inflammation. It can also help to lower stress levels and improve sleep.
- Limit alcohol – Excessive alcohol intake can induce inflammation throughout our bodies and affect our gut health.
- Eat a balanced diet – Healthful and nutritious meals, most of the time, will help support the various bodily processes occurring 24/7. Less nutritious dietary choices can increase inflammation, lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and raise the risk for other diseases.
- Manage stress – Extended periods of stress will spike cortisol levels, raise blood sugars, lower our ability to fight infections, and increase inflammation. Try to manage your stress through leaning on a supportive network, practicing mindfulness exercises, yoga, therapy, etc.
While these suggestions may seem common sense, it can be easy to get caught up and stray from healthy habits. Try to incorporate small, healthy habits to become common in your routines. Take care of yourself, and your body will thank you.
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