Your immune system is important for keeping you healthy and fighting off infection. But instead of treating your illnesses after the fact, why not be proactive and boost your immunity in the first place? To do so, you need a well-balanced lifestyle that supports your immune function. If you’re seeking foods and supplements to boost the immune system, here are 5 critical tips.
5 Tips to Support Your Immune System
Our tips include several foods and supplements to boost the immune system as well as practical ways to support immune function.
- Eat three to six meals a day
Food is your fuel. It’s the way you get your antioxidants, nutrients, and energy. Without it, you wouldn’t have a functioning or healthy immune system. Eating smaller but more frequent meals throughout the day can help you remain satisfied as you go about your work or studies. This is important to maintain your focus and concentration as well. Your diet should be all about balance. Eat sugary or salty foods in moderation, but most of your diet should consist of highly nutritious foods such as:
- Fresh fruits and veggies. Try to include a wide variety of different colored fruits and veggies to get plenty of antioxidants. Choose vegetables you genuinely enjoy and season them well. Roast, bake, or sauté them for a better flavor.
- Cereal, pasta, and rice. Choose whole grain products for the most nutritional value.
- Yogurt and milk. Dairy products are high in calcium, which is important for your bone health. If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, you can get your calcium from soy foods (like tofu), almonds, spinach, and more.
- Meats, poultry, and seafood. These products are high in protein, which is important for fueling your body. Choose lean cuts to minimize your saturated fat intake. If you are vegan, you can pick alternatives such as seitan, tofu, and beans.
- Get your vitamins in
Vitamin C, D, and E are particularly important for your immune system function. They are all antioxidants that help fight off inflammation and boost immunity. You can find vitamin C in citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, and a myriad of other foods. Milk, yogurt, and salmon tend to have great levels of vitamin D, while Vitamin E is available in products like nuts and olive oil. If your doctor determines that you have a deficiency in any of these vitamins, you might consider taking a nutritional supplement.
- Eat your flavonoids
Flavonoids are a type of polyphenol, which is a type of antioxidant. Antioxidants are wonderful because, as their name suggests, they help fight off oxidation. Oxidation happens when we leave metal tools out and they rust, but our immune system also experiences it. It can harm cells in our immune system, leaving them ill-equipped to fight off infection. But antioxidants help counteract those effects. You can find flavonoids in brightly colored foods such as blueberries, strawberries, grapes, broccoli, green tea, coffee, and so much more.
- Take a probiotic supplement
Intestinal health and immune system health are deeply linked. That’s why it’s worth making the effort to improve your gut health—which is where probiotics come in. Probiotics are a type of good gut bacteria. This bacteria can help us digest food and regulate our immune system responses. Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and kimchi, contain probiotics. You can also choose to take a probiotic supplement.
- Get enough high-quality sleep
While this item on the list isn’t a food or supplement, it’s key to making sure your body can actually use those foods and supplements well. Your body heals and recovers while it sleeps, performing essential functions to make sure it’s at its best. For most adults, seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal. But if you’re tossing and turning for most of that time, find an evening routine that relaxes you and puts you into a deep sleep.
Need a Boost? Try Cell Therapy
If you’ve been implementing all of these healthy habits into your daily routine but still need a boost, there are treatments available. One option is cell therapy, which uses thymus, spleen, and bone marrow injections to boost your immune system.
For more information on how cell therapy works, read more here.
For a consultation, call us at 1-800-826-5366.