How to Naturally Strengthen Your Immune System

Wintery weather means that the cold and flu season is upon us. So, now is the time to build up the immune system, with an easy natural approach. Holistic remedies, like eating enough fruits and vegetables and getting enough sleep, can help you boost the immune system so you can avoid common illnesses so common in the fall and early winter.

The Immune System Defined

Your immune system is a collective term for all the ways the body recognizes cells, tissues, and organisms that do not belong in the body. People are born with immune defences, that start in infancy. A strong immune system initiates an immune response to fight unwanted elements. Unfortunately, stresses and strains of life can weaken the immune system. This makes natural immune care an important part of preventative health care. A strong immune system can protect against pathogens, diseases, and an undesirable overgrowth of cells.

Following some simple recommendations can go a long way in boosting the immune system naturally.

Get Enough Sleep

When it comes to sleep, research suggests that you have to strike the right balance between getting too little sleep and too much. Studies show that lack of sleep is associated with suppressed function of the immune system. People who do not get enough sleep have a decreased ability to fight off colds, flu, and bacterial infections. Adults typically need 7 – 8 hours of sleep daily.

Save Some Time for Play

Strengthen your immune system, naturally, by incorporating exercise into your routine. You will build strong muscles and bones and possibly slim down, while building immunity to protect your body. Exercising regularly can help to lower the level of stress hormones in your body. It will also expand the number of white blood cells, part of the body’s defence mechanism, and promote the elimination of pathogens that can be harmful, through urine and sweat.

Increase Probiotics in your Diet

Boost your immunity by choosing foods that contain a high probiotic content to enhance the beneficial bacteria that live in your gut. Probiotics are living microorganisms found in such foods as sauerkraut, Kombucha, a fizzy fermented black tea, and Miso that is used to make soup.

Eat your Fruits and Veggies

Mom was right about eating your fruits and vegetables and it seems that the recommended amount is increasing all the time. The USDA recommends 7 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. A diet with enough fruits and vegetables is rich in phytochemicals and the vitamins and other nutrients that boost immunity. Vitamin C, contained in citrus and green vegetables, is especially important, since infections can sap the vitamin out of immune cells.