Our immune system is very important to staying healthy. There are several things to boost the ability to stay well.
First eat a good diet. Many of us eat processed food such as white bread, white rice, cookies, cakes candy, etc. These items have little or no nutrient value other than empty calories. They do not help our body’s immune system, our ability to heal nor replenish the needed chemicals to keep our body’s chemical processes going. You’ll notice below that ‘magnesium’ crops up a lot and that is because it should be a staple in people’s diets. To gain more info on how important it is, can help people make more informed decisions on how they should take it.
Instead of processed food eat:
- Whole grains- which give us zinc, magnesium and selenium for our immune system as well as fiber for over all health.
- Fresh vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, beet greens, Swiss chard, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, legumes (lentils, dry beans) which give us Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E as well as zinc, magnesium as well as selenium.
- Fresh fruits such as mangos, dried apricots, avocados, cantaloupe, kiwi, oranges, strawberries and bananas which also gives us a healthy supply of vitamins A,C,E and zinc, selenium and magnesium.
- Mushrooms, salmon, herring, egg yolks are good sources of Vitamin D. A little sun- about 10 minutes a day helps.
- Mackerel, salmon, herring, oysters, sardines flax seeds, chia seeds and walnuts are good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Other foods such as yogurt, garlic, pineapple when used as food and spices for cooking have special compounds to help with the immune system.
It is also a good idea to take a multivitamin, one a day. You may also consider doing research into colostrum benefits, or other supplements you could take in addition to the multivitamin.
Second we need to exercise, do things that you like to do. Dancing to your favorite music helps to get the immune system going and lifts the spirit. Walking, running, gardening, house keeping, going up and down stairs. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong are great ways of exercising and meditating which is another way of relieving stress.
Third we need to relieve stress. Stress is a chronic drain on our immune system and then we have difficulty replacing the needed chemicals to keep our immune system healthy. In these days of social isolation, it can be difficult to relieve this stress.
Virtual meetings with apps like Zoom and Skype help to keep in contact with others. FaceTime on phones can also allow for more of an in person experience.
Laughter is always good medicine as is gratitude.
Prayer and meditation help decrease chronic stress and worry. 10- 20 minutes a day can work wonders. It can give us a feeling of peace and ease.
It also might be a good time to explore hobbies like knitting, wood working, fishing, painting, writing, sewing etc….. All great meditative things to do.
So in these days of shelter in place, I hope you all are well and safe. Take some time to help your immune system work at its best.
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