While bolstering your immunity is easier said than done, several dietary and lifestyle changes may strengthen your body’s natural defences and help you fight harmful pathogens, or disease-causing organisms.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep and immunity are closely tied. Sleep is a time when your body produces and distributes key immune cells, heals and regenerates. Adequate sleep is critical for a healthy immune response. In fact, inadequate or poor quality sleep is linked to a higher susceptibility to sickness.
Getting adequate rest may strengthen your natural immunity. Also, you may sleep more when sick to allow your immune system to better fight the illness. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try limiting screen time for an hour before bed, as the blue light emitted from your phone, TV, and computer may disrupt your circadian rhythm, or your body’s natural wake-sleep cycle.
Other sleep hygiene tips include sleeping in a completely dark room or using an eye mask, going to bed at the same time every night, and exercising regularly. There are many natural ways to help you sleep like vitamins and meditation.
Don’t Smoke
Like alcohol, smoking can also affect immune health. Anything that’s a toxin can compromise your immune system. In particular, the chemicals released by cigarette smoke — carbon monoxide, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, and cadmium — can interfere with growth and function of immune cells, like cytokines, T cells, and B cells.
Eat Infection-Fighting Foods
Your body (including your immune system) runs on the fuel you put into it. That’s why eating well, along with several other good-for-you behaviours, is so important. Put simply, it’s your immune system’s job to defend your body against illness and disease. The complex system is made up of cells in your skin, blood, bone marrow, tissues, and organs that — when working the way they should — protect your body against potentially harmful pathogens.
It’s also important to know that you build a strong immune system by maintaining healthy eating habits over time. You can’t just eat four oranges at breakfast and expect to be protected that day against catching a cold.
Foods like fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds etc are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that may give you an upper hand against harmful pathogens. The antioxidants will help decrease inflammation by combatting unstable compounds called free radicals, which can cause inflammation when they build up in your body in high levels.
Healthy fats, like those found in olive oil, salmon and chia seeds, may boost your body’s immune response to pathogens by decreasing inflammation. Although low-level inflammation is a normal response to stress or injury, chronic inflammation can suppress your immune system.
Gut health and immunity are also deeply interconnected, therefore it's advised to eat fermented foods which are rich in beneficial bacteria, called probiotics that populate your digestive tract. These foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir etc. If you don’t regularly eat fermented foods, probiotic supplements are another option.
Some Foods For The Shopping List:
Blueberries
Dark chocolate
Turmeric
Oily fish
Broccoli
Sweet potatoes
Spinach
Yogurt
Ginger
Garlic
Green tea
Watermelon
Kefir
Sunflower seeds
Almonds
Acai Berry
Oranges or kiwifruit
Red bell pepper
Mushrooms
Pomegranate Juice
Other Foods To Consider For Certain Symptoms:
Bananas and rice are known to soothe an upset stomach and curb diarrhoea. Black and green tea contain catechin, a phytochemical reported to have natural antibiotic and anti-diarrhoea effects, along with blueberries which are also high in natural aspirin, which may lower fevers and help with aches and pains.
Cranberries may help prevent bacteria from sticking to cells lining the bladder and urinary tract.
Chilli peppers, mustard and horseradish may help break up mucus in air passages and lungs, whilst onions contain phytochemicals reported to help the body clear bronchitis and other infections.
Garlic is known to reduce the incidence of the common cold by about 30%.
Supplement Wisely
Your body absorbs and uses vitamins and nutrients better when they come from a dietary source. While vitamins and supplements can help fill in the gaps in your diet, the best way to load up on essential nutrients is to get them straight from food. Saying that, if you do choose to supplement, here is an indication of supplements which may strengthen your body’s general immune response:
Vitamin B6 - is vital to supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system. Vitamin B6-rich foods include chicken and cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna. Vitamin B6 also is found in green vegetables and in chickpeas, which is the main ingredient in hummus.
Vitamin C - is one of the biggest immune system boosters of all. In fact, a lack of vitamin C can even make you more prone to getting sick. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale and broccoli. Daily intake of vitamin C is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce or store it. Taking 1,000–2,000 mg of vitamin C per day can reduced the duration of colds by 8% in adults and 14% in children.
Vitamin D - a deficiency may increase your chances of getting sick, so supplementing may counteract this effect – Sunshine also boosts vitamin D in the body, and you require approximately 30 minutes per day.
Vitamin E - is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body fight off infection. Foods rich in vitamin E include nuts, seeds and spinach.
Zinc - supplementing with more than 75 mg of zinc per day can reduce the duration of a cold by 33% - although too much can be detrimental.
It's Also Worth Considering Adaptogens Or Superherbs
Adaptogens, or superherbs, are a group of herbs that support and rebalance the body, allowing us to adapt to stressors whether they are physical, environmental or emotional. They have been likened to a thermostat regulating our body, calming us down when we are too stressed and boosting our energy when we are depleted.
Herbalists use these powerful supportive herbs to help rejuvenate and support immunity and mindset. Here are a few thought to bolster immunity.
Turmeric - Is a superhero for everyday use. It is in fact a really accessible adaptogen that can be bought fresh in most health food shops, either fresh or ground. and easily added to your daily routine.
Elderberry - few studies have found that elderberry could reduce the symptoms of viral upper respiratory infections. You can get this in a syrup, drizzle it over porridge or youghurt.
Echinacea - those who take echinacea have been known to recover from colds slightly more quickly than those who do not. You can even get it in a sweetie form.
Ashwagandha - a true superfood, this Ayurvedic herb is super popular for its magical powers in healing the body of infections and symptoms of a cold, cough and viral bugs.
Ginseng - can help the immune system while fighting off the common cold. Besides improving your immune system, ginseng may lower blood sugar
Mushrooms - like shiitake, maitake and reishi are particularly good for staying healthy during cold and flu season. You can easily buy these in popular powder blends.
Limit Added Sugars
Curbing your sugar intake can decrease inflammation and aid weight loss, thus reducing your risk of chronic health conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. You should strive to limit your sugar intake to less than 5% of your daily calories. This equals about 2 tablespoons (25 grams) of sugar for someone on a 2,000-calorie diet.
When It Comes To Alcohol, Practice Moderation
Drinking high amounts of alcohol is associated with a range of negative health effects, including lowered immune function. When you drink high amounts of alcohol, your body is too busy trying to detoxify your system to bother with normal immune system function.
Engage In Moderate Exercise – (Outside When Possible)
Although prolonged intense exercise can suppress your immune system, moderate exercise can give it a boost. Regular exercise lowers your risk of developing chronic diseases, as well as viral and bacterial infections.
Exercise also increases the release of endorphins (a group of hormones that reduce pain and create feelings of pleasure) making it a great way to manage stress. Since stress negatively impacts our immune system.
Studies indicate that even a single session of moderate exercise can boost the effectiveness of vaccines in people with compromised immune systems. Examples of moderate exercise include brisk walking, steady bicycling, jogging, swimming, and light hiking. Most people should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Stay Hydrated
Hydration doesn’t necessarily protect you from germs and viruses, but preventing dehydration is important to your overall health. Dehydration can cause headaches and hinder your physical performance, focus, mood, digestion, and heart and kidney function. These complications can increase your susceptibility to illness.
To prevent dehydration, you should drink enough fluid daily to make your urine pale yellow. Water is recommended because it’s free of calories, additives, and sugar. While tea and juice are also hydrating, it’s best to limit your intake of fruit juice and sweetened tea because of their high sugar content. It’s important to note that older adults begin to lose the urge to drink, as their bodies do not signal thirst adequately. Older adults need to drink regularly even if they do not feel thirsty.
Keep Stress Under Control
A positive mindset is vital for health and well-being. Research shows that positive thoughts reduce stress and inflammation and increase resilience to infection — while negative emotions can make you more susceptible to the common cold and flu. Relieving stress and anxiety is key to immune health. Long-term stress not only promotes inflammation, it creates imbalances in immune cell function.
There are many effective stress-reduction techniques; the key is to find what works for you. Meditation (apps like Headspace and Calm can help), journaling, mindful practices like yoga and any activity that you enjoy (such as fishing, playing golf, or drawing). Try to do at least one stress-reducing activity every day. Short on time? Start small. Set aside five minutes at some point each day for fun and increase it when you can.
Say Bye To A Cold Quicker & Relieve Symptoms by...
Knowing When Not To Treat Symptoms
Believe it or not, those annoying symptoms you're experiencing are part of the natural healing process -- evidence that the immune system is battling illness. For instance, a fever is your body's way of trying to kill viruses by creating a hotter-than-normal environment.
Also, a fever's hot environment makes germ-killing proteins in your blood circulate more quickly and effectively. Thus, if you endure a moderate fever for a day or two, you may actually get well faster.
Coughing is another productive symptom; it clears your breathing passages of thick mucus that can carry germs to your lungs and the rest of your body.
Even that stuffy nose is best treated mildly or not at all. A decongestant, like Sudafed, restricts flow to the blood vessels in your nose and throat. But often you want the increase blood flow because it warms the infected area and helps secretions carry germs out of your body.
Blow Your Nose Often (The Right Way)
It's important to blow your nose regularly when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head. But when you blow hard, pressure can carry germ-carrying phlegm back into your ear passages, causing earache. The best way to blow your nose: Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other.
Treat That Stuffy Nose With Warm Salt Water
Salt-water rinsing helps break nasal congestion, while also removing virus particles and bacteria from your nose. Try mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Use a bulb syringe or nasal irrigation kit to squirt water into the nose. Hold one nostril closed by applying light finger pressure while squirting the salt mixture into the other nostril. Let it drain. Repeat two to three times, then treat the other nostril.
Gargle
Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Gargle with half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces warm water, four times daily.
To reduce the tickle in your throat, try an astringent gargle - such as tea that contains tannin - to tighten the membranes. Or use a thick, viscous gargle made with honey or honey and apple cider vinegar. Seep one tablespoon of lemon juice in two cups of hot water; mix with one teaspoon of honey. Let the mixture cool to room temperature before gargling.
Drink Hot Liquids
Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat. If you're so congested that you can't sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Make a cup of hot herbal tea. Add one teaspoon of honey and one small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon. Limit yourself to one. Too much alcohol will inflame the membranes and make you feel worse.
Stay Warm And Rested
Staying warm and resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by resting.
Take A Steamy Shower
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and may help you relax. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
Use A Salve Under Your Nose
A small dab of mentholated salve under your nose can help to open breathing passages and restore the irritated skin at the base of the nose. Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw. However, only put it on the outside, under your nose, not inside your nose.
Apply Hot Or Cold Packs Around Your Congested Sinuses
Either temperature works. You can buy reusable hot or cold packs or make your own. You can apply heat by taking a damp washcloth and heating it for 55 seconds in a microwave (test the temperature first to make sure it's not too hot.) A small bag of frozen peas works well as a cold pack.
Sleep With An Extra Pillow Under Your Head
Elevating your head will help relieve congested nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope.
Don't Fly Unless Necessarily
There's no point adding stress to your already stressed-out upper respiratory system, and that's what the change in air pressure will do. Flying with cold or flu congestion can temporarily damage your eardrums as a result of pressure changes during take-off and landing. If you must fly, use a decongestant and carry a nasal spray with you to use just before take-off and landing. Chewing gum and swallowing frequently can also help relieve pressure.
The content provided in our articles is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that YK DAILY is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the articles are the views only and may not be scientifically factual. You understand and agree by reading anything on our website that YK DAILY shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information published. All images are from Pinterest, if you know the original creator please let us know, so that we can credit them.
