(Newswire.net — July 16, 2020) — During the coronavirus pandemic, many people worry that they may succumb to an intense form of the COVID-19 illness, resulting in an intense cough, fever, malaise, and difficulty breathing—and in the worst cases, severe pneumonia.
While there is not yet any vaccine, and no sure-fire way to ensure that your immune system will fend off the virus if you come in contact with it, there are steps that you can take to limit the chances of getting sick.
Strengthening your immune system is often as easy making a few life changes. Let’s take a look.
Step 1: Improve your diet and make use of supplements.
You are what you eat, as the old saying goes, and your body’s ability to produce antibodies and increase its natural defenses often depends on your diet. Healthy choices give your body the ability to ward off infection, and plenty of resources to fight off infection if you do fall ill. Unhealthy choices put you at risk of health complications like high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes, making it much easier to succumb to severe infection.
You can start making changes to have a healthier diet today. If you’re not sure what that looks like, here’s a brief outline of the ideal healthy diet:
- Healthy sources of protein, like plant-based protein or fish, should figure into your diet. You can supplement with healthy pea protein shakes as well, especially if you exercise frequently.
- Plenty of leafy green vegetables, along with crunchy fibrous veggies, should form the bulk of what you eat. Salads can be made delicious with nuts, dried fruits, and a simple vinaigrette, as well.
- Clean carbs, like brown rice and whole grain bread, can be added to round out a meal and make it more filling.
And, of course, be sure that you’re drinking plenty of water no matter what your diet includes. If you’re worried about getting every nutrient you need, vitamins like immune system booster gummies can be used to supplement a balanced diet.
Step 2: Focus on exercise and healthy lifestyle choices
In order to limit your chances of health complications if you do happen to get sick, it’s smart to exercise often and lead a generally healthy lifestyle. Here are some simple dos and don’ts that you can keep in mind:
Do:
- Exercise 3 to 5 days a week, including plenty of cardio, weight lifting, and extended exercises like long walks.
- Choose a healthy diet like the one described above.
- Limit your exposure to unnatural and toxic chemicals found in many beauty products and foods.
Don’t:
- Regularly smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products
- Drink alcohol in excess of 2 drinks per night
- Eat excessively fatty, greasy, or salty foods
- Spend too much time seated and sedentary
Living a healthy lifestyle is essential for a healthy immune stem. You’re basically giving your body the best fighting chance it has at producing its natural defenses so, if you do get sick, you’ll be able to fend off the infection more easily.
However, there’s another aspect of a healthy, immune-boosting lifestyle that deserves its own section.
Step 3: Reduce your stress and invest in healthy sleep
Heightened stress levels are known to be correlated with a weaker immune response. So, in order to best naturally strengthen your immune system, one of the biggest steps you can take is to reduce your overall stress levels.
This is often easier said than done, but it’s an important step that will not only improve your day-to-day quality of life, it will also improve your immune system. If you can, try to cut out sources of stress from your life: think toxic, unhealthy relationships, or overextending yourself at work. You can supplement your stress reduction strategies with healthy habits, too like taking yoga classes online.
In addition to destressing, it’s also important to get a good night’s sleep. When you sleep poorly, your body doesn’t have the energy it takes to ward off infection, and it’s easier to fall ill. Try to get at least 7 hours, preferably 8-10, per night. This will lead to better overall health, and will significantly improve your body’s natural immune responses.
Gaining a naturally healthy immune system may require many lifestyle changes, but you’ll be much healthier overall in the long run. Try these changes out today to give your body the best tools possible to fight off the coronavirus—or whatever else may come your way!