Kudos to millennials! Those born between 1981 and 1996 are said to be much more health conscious than previous generations. There are several reasons for this, including advanced technology that gives people instant access to information. Also, millennials work out a lot or at least consult personal fitness trainers and dieticians about their lifestyle and food choices. If you are between the ages of 23 and 32, you might regularly incorporate super foods such as cayenne pepper, kale or chia seeds into your diet. Immune system health ranks high on most millennials’ lists of priorities.
Everyone should take a hint from millennials because building strong immune systems is a critical need right now. For years, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other diseases have devastated many lives. We’re currently self-quarantining to slow the spread of communicable disease. Video after video and article after article recommends building up our immune systems as a key to staying healthy.
Here are simple things you can do to start
The easiest way to start improving your immune system health is to consider any bad habits you might have that you need to kick to the curb. Are you a smoker? It is time to stop. Are you a processed sugar addict? This is one of the number one enemies of a strong immune system. Has your weight gotten out of control? Your immune system can’t get stronger unless you maintain a healthy weight. Such goals are not unattainable, but you might have more success if you tackle one thing at a time. If you try to do it all at once, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. An article I wrote a while back about setting achievable goals might help you get started.
Let’s replace bad habits with good ones
Eating, sleeping and exercising are keys to increasing immune system strength. I don’t necessarily believe that every person must get eight or more hours of sleep per night to be healthy. I am healthy and I typically sleep five to seven hours per night. What’s most important is that you get an adequate amount of sleep. You can determine if you’re sleeping enough by the amount of energy, clarity of thought and ability to function you have each day. It’s also important to move your body throughout the day.
A sedentary lifestyle wreaks havoc on the immune system. If going to a gym or doing a scheduled, scripted workout isn’t your thing, it’s okay. However, you-gots-ta’ get up and move if you want to be healthy, people! If you like to dance, dance! Take a brisk walk, use the stairs instead of the elevator (although not this week because you’re supposed to be staying home to help stop the spread of COVID-19). The point is that many wonderful things occur in your body when you move, including the strengthening of your immune system.
Put down the donut and pick up the blackberries
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is a must if you hope to boost immune system health. If you haven’t tried gardening, this year is as good a time as any to start. Growing berries is a superb idea because they tend to be on the expensive side at the grocery store. If the majority of food choices you’re making come in a vacuum-sealed bag or have ingredients you can’t even pronounce, it’s time for a change. Choose whole foods and eat them raw, steamed or as unprocessed as you can.
Additional ways to boost immune system health
Spend time in natural sunlight, every day! Read this article to learn why sunlight is good for your health. Also, avoid using toxins on your skin. I highly recommend studying the potential benefits of using pure, high quality essential oils to help build strong immune health, as well. And, get ye some apple cider vinegar with the mother culture in it. Mix a few tablespoons with cold water and some pure, unprocessed honey. Down it. Hold your breath if you have to because of the smell. ACV is a prebiotic, meaning it fills your intestines with good bacteria that the flora in your body need to survive.
Probiotics, on the other hand, replenish the bacterial supply in your body (In short, the probiotic bacteria feed off the prebiotic bacteria.) that is an absolute must for a healthy immune system. Life in the modern world has depleted our supplies of good bacteria. What we eat, put on our skin, and use in our everyday environment that we wind up ingesting are full of toxins. If we want be stronger, healthier and better able to ward off contagious disease, we need to ‘clean house’ and restore our bodies! Making homemade yogurt is another easy way to have healthy food on hand. And, while you’re at, learn about water kefir. It was a game-changer for my family!
We’re in this together
Do you have ideas on how to boost our immune system health? Sharing information helps us learn from each other. Let’s inspire, encourage and support one another as we strive to be safer, healthier and stronger!
Final note: I am not a licensed physician, dietician or scientist. This post is not intended to replace appropriate consultation or advice with your medical care providers. That said, I happen to have a s-u-p-e-r easy crock pot recipe for homemade yogurt. It’s a lot easier than many of the ones you’ll find online. If you’d like to know more about it, leave a comment and I’ll be happy to share it with you!
