Tips to Boost your Immune System Naturally

How often do you express gratitude for your immune system? 

This may sound strange; it’s not like we’re constantly thinking about our immune system, anyway. But, our immune system is like a troop of front-line soldiers, constantly battling against unknown threats. If anything, we don’t thank our immune system enough. 

Our immune system is an incredible defense mechanism made up of white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system, the lymphatic system, the spleen, the thymus, and the bone marrow. It’s main function is to protect the body against disease and infection.

While the body is pretty amazing on its own, there’s quite a few ways you can help boost your immune system naturally.

Tips to boost your immune system naturally

A strong immune system boils down to living a healthy life. By prioritizing a balanced lifestyle and implementing healthy habits, your immune system will naturally improve. But, what exactly is required to have a “balanced” lifestyle?

Step up your nutrition

Your diet is critically important in influencing your overall health. While it may be easy to reach for junk food, understanding food as fuel for your body can help you make healthier choices. 

Make sure you’re eating an array of fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding any micronutrient deficiencies. Some definicinies can weaken the immune system, so check out supplement options if you aren’t able to hit all your micronutrients in your diet. 

Commit to regular exercise

Consistent, regular exercise is the key to a healthy lifestyle. That doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym for hours or run until you can’t feel your legs. On the contrary, you should do at least 30 minutes of enjoyable movement. The key word here is enjoyable. There’s no wrong way to exercise, as long as you pick an activity you actually enjoy!

Exercise on its own, just like diet, won’t improve your immune system. However, it will inspire a healthy and balanced lifestyle, which will, in turn, boost your immunity! 

Minimize your stress

Thankfully, the mind-body connection is now being taken more seriously in the medical field. With plenty of science back evidence, our emotional state weighs heavily on our physical health. 

For the sake of your health and immunity, it’s crucial to minimize your stress. But, this is far easier said than done. 

Since everything is connected, diet and exercise are crucial in minimizing stress. This is the essence of having a balanced lifestyle. By engaging in regular exercise and eating a healthy diet, you can lower your stress, which will help boost your immune system. While this connection is proven by science, you can also engage in a few more self-care activities to minimize stress:

• Implement a morning routine
• Meditate regularly
• Practice yoga
• Limit social media use, especially in the mornings and before bed
• Routinely get a good night’s sleep
• Participate in soul-enriching activities (whatever that means for you!)
• Control caffeine intake 
• Prioritize time in nature
• Take frequent breaks from work 

The list does not start and end here. There’s so many ways to minimize your stress, but the system you choose is entirely up to you. We are all different and therefore have different triggers for stress. Instead of overwhelming yourself with every activity on this list, choose a few that work best for you. 

Closing thoughts…

Since your immune system is made up of different organs, cells and chemicals in your body, there isn’t one, fool-proof step to boosting your immunity. 

The strength of your immune system depends heavily on your overall health, which makes sense since the components of your immune system are sprinkled throughout your body. Through a combination of diet, exercise and overall well-being, you can improve your immunity by making the conscious effort to care for your body.