Stay Healthy:  Boost Your Body’s Immune System

Have you ever heard the expression “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?”  It makes sense.  The best way to keep our bodies healthy is not to get sick in the first place.  Keeping our immune systems running smoothly is our best defense against disease.

It’s a common misconception that we have no control over our immune systems.  Eating the right foods and taking care of our bodies allows us to fight off infection more quickly and efficiently.  Here are some of the ways we can boost our immunity:

* Include lots of antioxidants in your diet.  These include vitamins A, C and E.  Foods rich in antioxidants include cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and tea.  You might also want to take a daily antioxidant supplement, because it is difficult to get in as many antioxidants as are recommended through diet alone.

* Cut back on sugar.  Sugar bogs down our white blood cells, preventing our immune systems from functioning properly.  Omitting it from our diets as much as possible can work wonders for our health.

* Eliminate trans fats.  These are also detrimental to our bodies and cause free radical damage.

* Exercise regularly.  Getting our blood flowing allows our white blood cells to circulate throughout the body, and that means that they can reach and kill germs more quickly.  Try to work out moderately at least three or four times a week.

* Keep your body cleansed.  Drinking water helps to keep our systems functioning optimally, unlike sugary sodas and other beverages that add unnecessary calories.  There are also colon cleansing products that we can use to remove toxins from our bodies periodically. 

* Take vitamins, minerals and herbs that are good for the immune system.  Zinc does a good job of assisting our immune systems when we are sick, and including it in our diets or taking it in a supplement regularly will help keep us from getting sick in the first place.  Herbs that are good for the immune system include garlic, astragalus, and elderberry.

* Make sure you’re getting enough rest.  Our bodies produce growth hormones that boost our immunity while we sleep.  If we fail to get enough sleep, we don’t produce these in the amounts that we need.  So be sure to get plenty of rest each and every night.

Your immune system is an amazing thing.  When you take good care of it, it takes good care of you.  With a healthy diet, adequate rest, and frequent exercise, we can ensure that our immune systems are operating as they should.  Then we can spend less time fighting off illness and more time enjoying life.

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