With the COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacting everyone, a lot of people are adopting extra measures to remain healthy.
Efforts like social distancing, frequent hand washing, and wearing of face masks are critical factors that can mitigate virus spread. At the same time, making sure you have a robust immune system that can defend you from harmful microorganisms is likewise essential.
Do you always feel tired? Are you often ill with annoying symptoms you can’t explain? If you reply yes to both questions, then your immune system is most likely fragile. Let’s take a quick look at what doctors recommend to get your immune system back on track.
Can You Boost Your Immune System?
Before discussing steps to reinforce your system, let’s answer the question: Can you boost your immune system? Today, experts have yet to establish the direct connection between robust immune functionality and wellness.
The body’s immune system, as the name states, is a structure or mechanism and not an individual unit. For the human body to perform duties well, it’ll need wholeness and balance. Medical researchers are still studying the impacts of exercise, distress, healthy diet, age, and other variables on immune reaction.
At any rate, there’s nothing wrong with following a wholesome healthy-living approach to maintain and improve the immune system.
Doctor’s Recommendation to Strengthen Your Immune System
With that cleared up, here are what doctors recommend to fortify your body’s system:
Be Conscious of the Food You Consume
While there’s no particular food that can guarantee treatment from sickness, some of them can reinforce your system to safeguard you from flu, colds, and infections. Here are a few examples:
Garlic
This popular ingredient is almost present in every kitchen worldwide. Its immune-strengthening qualities derive from allicin, a sulfur-carrying compound. Medical experts acknowledge garlic’s health benefits, such as combating infections and reducing blood pressure.
Vitamin C-abundant food
Generally speaking, Vitamin C is a prominent nutrient that enhances immunity. A study conducted by The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited in 2012, titled Consumption of Gold Kiwifruit Reduces Severity and Duration of Selected Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms and Increases Plasma Vitamin C Concentration in Healthy Older Adults found that regularly consuming kiwi for a month lessens the length and degree of upper respiratory infection effects.
Ginger
This ingredient carries serious heat in the shape of gingerol. Ginger aids in minimizing inflammation that can lower risks of sore throat and other diseases.
Broccoli
This vegetable packs vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins E, A, C, and fiber. Remember to keep its potency or nutrients intact, steam the vegetable, and don’t cook before serving.
Besides the abovementioned, keep in mind consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, and sugar can impair your body’s immune system.
Refine Your Habits
When your life is full of relentless stress, this scenario prompts your body to create cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone. In time, high cortisol levels reduce your tolerance to infection and lead to higher blood pressure and lack of sleep.
To shield yourself from distress and strengthen your system, refine your habits. Below are a few recommendations from doctors:
Sleep
Getting adequate sleep is vital to avoid infection. In fact, seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep can help you manage distress.
Exercise
To improve your immune system, doctors suggest regularly exercising every week.
Take Supplements
With the uncertainties that go along with the current pandemic, additional steps such as taking supplements are advisable. Hence, doctors suggest taking the following in moderation:
Vitamin A
Take Vitamin A supplements to assist in aiding the human body to combat infections, most especially respiratory diseases.
Vitamin D
Taking Vitamin D lowers the chances of flu and colds.
Zinc
This specific supplement also helps lessen the likelihood of common colds and infections.
Of course, suppose you have medical disorders that require you to take, for instance, prednisone, a drug that manages allergies, arthritis, and asthma, says GoodRx. In that case, it’s better to seek the advice of your primary healthcare provider before taking any supplements.
Try IV Therapies
Final Thoughts
In general, an individual’s immune system does spectacular work of protecting the body from disease-causing pathogens. Still, there are times that the system will fail, and a foreign substance like bacteria or a virus will cause you to be ill.
Please note that there is no medically proven correlation between wellness and more incredible immune performance at this time. In either case, pursuing the doctor’s advice for a simple healthy-living plan is an excellent means to provide your immune system utmost advantage.