7 ways to help boost your immune system
Your immune system is your BODYguard! It’s a complex network working hard within your body to help you fend off infection so you stand a better chance of staying healthy. Obviously, there may be times when nothing is going to stop you getting sick, but a healthy immune system is a good place to start building your defences!
Try these simple changes to your daily lifestyle to help keep your system fighting fit.
1. Get enough sleep
Sleep is important to help your mind and body reboot overnight. How much sleep each person needs does vary, but it tends to be between six and nine hours each night. For quality sleep, a good daily routine is essential, so find one that works for you and stick to it. Discover NHS-approved sleep apps to help you drift off.2. Do regular exercise
Regular physical activity is important for both your physical and mental health, and vital for maintaining your overall wellbeing. It can even reduce your risk of major illnesses. The NHS advises that everyone should try to be active every day and do at least 2.5 hours of exercise per week through a variety of activities.
Check out our Pilates workout that can be done in the comfort of your own home!.
3. Eat less sugar
Delicious though it might be, sugar doesn’t do your immune system any favours. Eating healthily will keep your immune system at its best, so stock up on vitamin packed fruit and veg and limit the sweet treats.
4. Learn to relax
It might be easier said than done, particularly when you’re going through a challenging time, but stress doesn’t help.
Everyone deals with stress in different ways and it’s important to understand how it affects you and how best to cope with it. Find out more about how to listen to your body
5. Keep yourself hydrated
Drinking plenty of water will keep you feeling good and looking good. Your body and immune system will benefit from staying well hydrated, and it can improve the condition of your skin too. The NHS advises us to drink about 1.2 litres per day, which is about 6-8 glasses.
6. Listen to music
Stress can wreak havoc on the body and the immune system, but in challenging times it can increase and be difficult to deal with. While we know we ought to stress less, it can be easier said than done. If you need a help getting a handle on your stress, check out the NHS advice here.A quick and easy stress buster though is to listen to your favourite tunes. Why not move a music player to the kitchen so you can sing along even while you’re doing chores like cooking and washing up?
7. Connect with your friends!
Researchers in the US have found that a wide social group contributes to a more positive, healthy outlook, which in turn can contribute to a healthy mind. One of the hardest things is going through long periods without being able to see friends.
While it’s still difficult to get together in person right now, technology is your friend. Get together through apps like Zoom or Houseparty to sustain your social life – a digital drink, virtual coffee or remote book club will help to keep you feeling connected.
What are your top tips for staying healthy?
Let us know in the comments below!