1. Eating Better For Health
Science Says: Deficiencies of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid,
and vitamins A, B6, C, and E alter immune responses.
Action Step: Keep eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to ensure you’re getting proper nutrition with plenty of these nutrients.
2. Get Enough Sleep
Science Says:Sleep enhances your immune defense by using the nervous system to communicate with the immune system. Sleep allows your body to send energy rich fuels to the immune system. Lack of sleep puts your body into an inflammatory state which has negative effects on immune system function.
Action Step: Even with the changes to your daily schedule, maintain a normal sleep cycle and prioritize your rest.
3. Stay Calm, Don’t Stress
Science Says: Chronic stress can activate latent viruses. Calm can change your immune cells signaling. Calm can decrease the likelihood of developing disease and reduce the systems of preexisting conditions.
Action Step: Reduce your stress by meditating, reading, or using a mindfulness app, such as Calm.
4. Here Comes The Sun
Science Says: Vitamin D synthesis is essential to keep your immune system strong. Sunlight helps maintain adequate Vitamin D production.
Action Step: You don’t need a sunburn to get some vitamin D. Try to get 5-15 minutes of sunlight per day. It can help with Vitamin D production and has also been shown to reduce depression.
5. Alcohol Won’t “Kill” The Virus
Science Says: Alcohol disrupts your immune system.Your ability to defend against infections is reduced with alcohol. Alcohol negativity impacts your innate and adaptive immunity. Microbes in your gut, which are critical for immunity, are damaged by alcohol.
Action Step: Just because you have time at home doesn’t mean you should load up on booze. Monitor your alcohol intake to support your immune system.
6. Your Brain Controls it All
Science Says: Innate and adaptive immunity are coordinated by your brain and contribute to long term immune memory. The immune and nervous systems are connected and can control each other. Your brain and your central nervous system live in your skull and spine.
Action Step: Movement of your spine and whole body exercise are important to optimize the function of your brain and nervous system.
7. Find Natural Ways to Reduce Any Aches and Pains
Science Says: Research shows that continued pain can affect negatively effect the function of your immune system. The immune system can modulate the nervous system and vice versa.
Action Step: If you have aches or pains, try natural methods to find relief. Medication, especially anti-inflammatories, can often compromise your immune function!
8. Wash Your Hands
Science Says: Hand Washing can prevent about 20% of respiratory infections. Antibiotics often are prescribed unnecessarily for these health issues. Reducing the number of these infections by washing hands frequently helps prevent the overuse of antibiotics the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world. Handwashing can also prevent people from getting sick with germs that are already resistant to antibiotics and that can be difficult to treat.
Action Step: Wash your hands 10-20 times per day for 20 seconds, and don’t forget the soap!
If you’re feeling unsure about your health or would like more information, get in touch! We’re here to help!
