As the world continues to go to battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to boost your immune system. Taking a few steps to improve how your body reacts to the virus can go a long way in keeping you healthy. Here are five ways that you can build a robust immune system during a pandemic.
Nourish the Body with the Right Foods
You cannot expect to have a strong immune system if you are not willing to nourish your body with the right foods. Health enthusiasts understand the importance of making vegetables and fruit the cornerstone of your diet. This approach will ensure that you are taking in an abundance of antioxidants and other nutrients.
Other good foods to focus on eating include a variety of whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins. Limiting your intake of saturated fat and sugar will also boost the function of your immune system and put you in the best position to fight off viruses and other bacteria.
Get Adequate Rest
When you sleep, your body goes to work repairing itself. Thus, proper sleep is imperative to healthy immune function. Most experts recommend that adults aim for at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
You can encourage better sleep patterns by creating an environment conducive to rest. Most people respond the best to a dark and cool room that is free of noise and distractions. In addition, limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol will encourage a more restful night of sleep. Lastly, avoiding blue light for at least two hours prior to bedtime will send the signal to your brain that is time to rest.
Make Exercise a Priority
Time and time again, it has been demonstrated that regular aerobic exercise is linked to a stronger immune system. People who are committed to regular exercise get sick less often than those who live a more sedentary lifestyle. Staying in shape has become increasingly difficult with many gyms closing their doors because of the pandemic. However, even a walk around your neighborhood or a hike in the woods will boost your cardiovascular fitness.
Regular exercise will also help to lower your blood pressure and help to negate putting on too much weight during the pandemic. As a bonus, regular exercise has also been shown to reduce stress and the symptoms of depression. This alone can boost your immune system.
Kick the Unhealthy Habits
There has never been a better reason to kick your unhealthy habits than a worldwide pandemic. If you are a smoker, now is the time to commit yourself to break this deadly habit.
Particularly in the case of COVID-19 that attacks the lungs, smoking can be a huge detriment to fighting off invading viruses. Many of the most severe COVID-19 patients need to be put on a ventilator to heal and survive. It does not take a medical degree to understand that damaged lungs will increase the chances that your body does not respond well to COVID-19.
It is also recommended to limit your intake of alcohol. Too much alcohol can throw your body into chaos while also interfering with your sleep patterns.
Keep Germs at Bay
Even the most robust immune systems will have a challenging time fighting off an assault of a strong virus. In order to protect yourself further, you need to practice good personal hygiene.
Proper hygiene starts and ends with hand washing. While warm water and soap is always ideal, during a pandemic, it is a good idea to always have quick access to sanitizer. You never know when you will not have access to soap and water, making it important to keep sanitizer ready to use. An alcohol free hand sanitizer will keep your hands clean without drying them out. This type of sanitizer will also deliver crucial moisturization in the process.
In general, the best defense that you have against a pandemic is a healthy immune system. And the best way to boost your immune system is by living a healthy lifestyle. These five tips are a great start in improving the function of this critical body responsibility.
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