5 Ways to Help Your Immune System This Winter
It’s official, Winter has come!
It’s that time of year where the weather is colder, your nose is runnier and our immune systems could do with a helping hand. In the Winter, bugs and flu’s seem to be at their strongest so why not help your system out with our 5 top tips?
Our immune system isn’t something we can see but its crucial in helping to keep you alive and well. Think of it as your first line of defense. When a foreign substance, germ or virus comes knocking, your immune system is called in. Of course, there is only so much it can take before something breaks through. This is why it’s important to give it a helping hand any way you can. Here’s 5.
Love Your Gut
Familiar with Yakult? the healthy drink for your gut? How they say that in every little bottle there is billions of healthy bacteria to help keep your gut healthy, help you digest and have a stronger natural defense system?
Well, a scientist named ”Hippocrates” once said that ”All disease begins in the gut”. In fact there is countless research that has show that is the bad bacteria in your gut outweighs the good, then your immune system will be weakened.
What are some gut loving food sources?
- Peas
- Bananas
- Garlic
- Cheese
- Almonds
- Dairy
- Olive oil
Cuddle with a Cuppa
When it comes to tea, there are 1,000’s to choose from. I myself am a fan of English breakfast tea but for the green or oolong lovers there is an amazing number of benefits to popping your Uccello Kettle on. Within minutes of your first sip, you have increased the number of antioxidants in your blood.
Since winter is here, there is a chance that our fingers will be crying out for something warm to cuddle up with, and what’s better than cup of tea?
Top tips for your tea:
- Loose-leaf Tea: depending on the size of your tea leaves, it’s best to let them sit in the hot water or 3-5 minutes.
- Green Tea: all forms of green tea are high in antioxidants so they are known to help give your immune system a helping hand.
- Calming Teas: This includes the likes of chamomile tea. Calming teas can help to stabilize hormones by promoting a sense of calm, allowing your immune system to focus effectively on protecting you from illness.
Vitamins
Vitamins and minerals are essential, just think if you lacked Vitamin C you would soon be looking like part of the crew on the black pearl.
Every vitamin plays more than one roll in your body and they are all very positive. Making sure you have enough vitamins and minerals in your body will help strengthen your bones, heal wounds and help out your immune system. Take a look at what some of the below vitamins can do for you:
- A – Will help regulate your immune system, protect you from infection and keep your skin looking healthy. Think leafy greens, milk, eggs and tomatoes
- B – Vitamin B has a direct effect on your energy levels, brain function and metabolism. Think chicken, eggs, seeds, meat (especially liver).
- C – This vitamin has antibodies and can help your body out up a good fight against any bacteria and infections. Try adding more citrus like oranges kiwi, lemons and grapefruit to get your daily vitamin C needs.
- D – Great for healthy bones and teeth, vitamin D can help your body fight off any infections. By adding cod liver oil, salmon, tuna and extra diary to your diet you can give your immune system as healthy boost
- E – It’s an excellent antioxidant and focuses on fighting cell damage. Great sources are peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds and greens.
Catch Enough Z’s
It’s no secret how a good nights sleep can have you feeling the next day. It can help you relax and refocus, whether its a bad day at work, stress with family etc. Sleeping actually helps your body repair itself and renews all the cells needed for the next day.
Regular good nights sleep helps keep your immune system in tip top shape. Ever notice how easy it is to catch a bug or a cold when you are run down and tired? When you are tired, so is your immune system.
8 hours a night is the general recommendation, and those who manage to get the 8 full hours are known to have a better antibody response when they come in contact with a cold or virus. So pop the kettle on, make some chamomile and head for a great nights sleep.
Gather Up The Garlic
While anyone close to you probably won’t thank you for the added garlic to your diet, your immune system certainly will.
Garlic adds flavour to food and has amazing antibiotic actions. It supports your liver to carry out any toxins. Ready for some garlic facts?
- Some of the health benefits of garlic are sadly, lost in the cooking of it. However, it is believed that if you crush it and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking you can help protect and keep in its health boosting properties.
- Not a fan of the garlic breath? Well, by eating fresh apples, parsley or even mint you can help reduce the smell on your breath.
Leave a Comment