After a long summer spent socially distancing, it is almost time to return to in-person learning. As we transition back into being around a lot of people every day, it is more important than ever to make sure your immune system is strong!
There are a lot of great ways to strengthen your immune system, both in your lifestyle and with daily supplements.
Positive Lifestyle Changes
There are still a lot of questions regarding the intricacies of the immune response. What exactly maximizes its effectiveness is unknown as of now. There are no proven links between a healthier lifestyle and better immune functions, but the immune system is so interconnected with the rest of the body it makes sense that a healthy lifestyle helps the immune system.
On top of possible immunity benefits, cultivating a healthy lifestyle is great for your physical and mental health. The start of the school year is right around the corner, and giving your immune system a boost is a great way to stay healthy.
Diet
Eating a balanced diet is a great way to positively impact your lifestyle. And the word “diet” is often associated with the most extreme cases — where you have to keep track of everything you eat and only eat certain foods at certain times. This is not the case! Eating a balanced diet can mean a lot of things. Fruits and vegetables are an amazing way to balance out your diet as they provide many amazing vitamins to the body that you might miss otherwise.
Your diet should not restrict you, or make eating a chore. Find a way to incorporate fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods into meals that you enjoy!
Stress and Sleep
Periods of great stress can negatively affect the immune system. Stress is all around us, and it can be challenging to keep up with good eating and exercise habits during stressful times.
The mixture of our body’s physical reaction to stress and how stress can affect other aspects of our lifestyle can stack up against our immune system. Finding healthy ways to deal with your stress affects much more than your immune system, but a better immune response is an added bonus!
Getting enough consistent sleep also can strengthen your immune system. Being well-rested helps the body in many ways as well as giving you the energy to keep up with other parts of your lifestyle.
Exercise
Getting exercise is very important to cultivate a healthy lifestyle and can help your immune system too. Similar to thinking about your diet, exercise does not need to be high-intensity to pay off! Walking, jogging, yoga, and tons of other activities are great ways to incorporate exercise into your routine.
It is often easy to be sitting all day — from work to your commute and generally feeling tired when you get home, but carving out a little time to get up and moving is amazing for your lifestyle.
Hydrate!
Staying hydrated can also boost your immune health. Water helps your immune system function at its best. Try to start your day with a tall glass of water to get your immune system off to a good start!
Supplements to Boost Your Immune System
Eating a balanced diet is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, but in practice, it is incredibly difficult to eat right every day. Adding a supplement to your routine is a great way to make sure you get enough vitamins to boost your immune system!
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an amazing way to boost your immune system. The body needs it to effectively fight off viral and bacterial infections, and having enough Vitamin C can shorten the duration of colds. Your body does not produce or store Vitamin C, so getting a daily dose of it is essential for good health.
Vitamin C is found in a lot of foods like most citrus and green vegetables, but it is always good to keep around if you start feeling under the weather! If you are interested in a Vitamin C supplement, consider Dr. Emil Nutrition’s Vitamin C Gummy. It combines Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea to protect and boost the health of your immune system in a tasty, grape-flavored gummy.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the most important immune-system strengthening nutrients. Having enough Vitamin D reduces the risk of colds and flu. Especially in the winter months, Vitamin D should be taken on a regular basis.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays a critical role in enhancing immune function. Taking a Vitamin A supplement can help the body fight infections and keep the immune system strong.
Speak to your primary health physician before starting a Vitamin A supplement. Vitamin A supplementation above normal levels can have negative health consequences and hurt your immune system.
How to Prepare for Your School Self Care Routine
Focusing on a healthy lifestyle, adding a supplement to your daily routine, or a mixture of the two are all great ways to prepare for your new self-care routine. Boosting your immune system is not something that happens overnight, so think about making changes you can keep up with over months, not just a week or two!
As with any supplement, be sure to discuss its potential addition with your healthcare provider. They can inform you about any interactions this supplement may have with other supplements, herbal remedies, prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications. Before trying these supplements, make sure to consult with your doctor to make sure this supplement is right for you.
