Hey there viewers! We all want to stay fit and disease-free. And for that,
your immune system should be working at its best. The stronger your immunity, the safer
you’ll be from catching infections. You’ll be able to fight off illness more efficiently.
So, how do you bolster your immunity naturally? There must be ways to strengthen your body’s
natural defenses. In today’s video, we will discuss several ways to improve your immune
system. Can laughing really make your body stronger? Why should you drink more water?
We’ll be discussing all of these AND more…
(Pause) To begin with, laugh as much as you can
Do you laugh a lot? Well, if you don’t, you now have a reason! Laughing is great for your health.
We have all heard the saying, “laughter is the best medicine.” It’s not just something
people say, though. Frequently laughing can help improve your immune system and keep you healthy.
A study showed people funny videos to monitor the effects of laughing on the immune system.
The results showed that participants’ immune systems who laughed out loud
worked better than the others. This doesn’t mean you have to
sit and watch funny videos every day, although it doesn’t hurt. Even spending time with your friends
would help you laugh a lot. Experts suggest it is 30 times more likely we’ll laugh when we’re
around friends. (Pause)
Next up, you need to make sure you drink a lot of water
How many glasses of water do you drink in a day? Have you ever monitored your
daily water intake? It might sound irrelevant to you. But the amount
of daily water you drink can improve your overall health.
Staying hydrated is vital in keeping yourself protected from germs and viruses.
When you’re dehydrated, you’ll have various issues such as problems with kidney function, headaches,
and digestion difficulties. These complications can mean you’ll be more prone to illness.
The best way to stay hydrated is by drinking water regularly. Water doesn’t have calories
or added sugar, as would be the case with other liquids such as carbonated drinks.
Beverages such as tea and fruit juice can help you stay hydrated but should be limited. These
beverages contain higher amounts of sugar, which can end up causing other health issues.
Drink plenty of water to quench your thirst. People who do intense exercises will need a
lot more water. Older individuals also need to drink water regularly, even if they’re
not thirsty. (Pause)
Getting a pet may have surprisingly pleasant effects on your health
A dog is said to be man’s best friend, and with a good reason! Having a dog as
a pet improves your physical and mental health. Since you need to walk your dog regularly, you
would also get physical exercise with your furry friend. Playing with your dog and getting their
affection improves your mood, especially when you return from a hard day’s work. If you have a child
at home, a dog can help build their immune system and make them less likely to have allergies.
It’s not just a dog, though. Any pet you have will give you a lot of health benefits.
Pet owners generally have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which keep their hearts
healthy. (Pause)
You’ll need to keep your stress levels low If you want to boost your immunity, you should
reduce your stress and anxiety levels as much as possible. In the current world we live in,
that may be hard to do. But your immunity system takes a hit when you stress too much.
If you’re under stress for an extended period, it will cause a flare-up in inflammation. It
also ends up causing an imbalance in the functionality of your immunity cells.
You can do various stress management activities, including meditation and yoga.
Other practices that can help your stress are journaling and exercise.
If you’re still unable to manage your stress, you should consider consulting a therapist
to help. (Pause)
Watch your alcohol intake if you want your immunity to be stronger
When you go out with your friends or family, alcohol is involved more often than not. It
would be best if you tried to limit your alcohol consumption to a minimum. Limiting your alcohol
intake at a party or social gathering to one or two drinks would greatly help your overall health.
Drinking too much alcohol can weaken your body’s defenses.
You would end up falling sick a lot more frequently.
We don’t mean you can bank your drinks either and blow them all on one rager. You should reduce the
number of occasions you end up with a drink in your hand. Drinking alcohol in large quantities
can directly suppress a wide range of immune responses. Alcohol abuse is also directly linked
with a number of infectious diseases. (Pause)
Sleep peacefully at night to stay healthy and fit
Maybe this sounds a little too exciting for lazy people like me. But did you know you can actually
boost your immunity by sleeping soundly at night? Sleep plays an essential role in your fitness.
When you sleep, your body takes the opportunity to work on itself and repair whatever damage has
occurred throughout the day. It also gives most of your organs a chance to take some well-deserved
rest. It is no wonder that getting enough sleep is linked with a robust immune system.
A study on more than 160 healthy adults had one group sleep for six hours or more while
another group slept for six hours or less. The group with more rest was less likely
to catch a cold than the other group. Not all of us can fall asleep quickly,
though. People struggling to fall asleep should try mindfulness steps such as reducing screen time
at least an hour before sleeping. The blue light that comes off these screens can mess with your
circadian rhythm and disturb your sleep cycle. (Pause)
You need to quit smoking if you want your immune system to work at its best
Cigarettes and tobacco are known causes of lung cancer and throat cancer. While the nicotine gets
you addicted to the cigarette, the tobacco and the tar can damage your immune system.
You may find it hard to give up on cigarettes because the nicotine in them
helps release dopamine to the body, making you feel good. Once you become dependent
on nicotine to give you your dopamine hit, your body craves more cigarettes.
But if you give in, you would only be destroying your overall health for a temporary dopamine hit.
Since your immune system also takes a hit, you would be more susceptible to falling ill and
ruining your quality of life. (Pause)
Reducing added sugars in your diet can help a lot Your diet should be devoid of added sugars
and refined carbs, as they are the leading cause of obesity.
When you put on more than your ideal weight, your body becomes more likely to fall sick.
A study among 1,000 people showed participants who were obese and got the flu vaccine were twice
as likely to get the disease compared with those who weren’t obese and got the vaccine.
When you reduce the sugar content in your diet, you can prevent your body
from inflammation and also help in shedding some weight. Reducing sugar consumption also
lowers the chances of getting chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular issues.
People with diabetes and heart diseases will have weaker immune systems,
making them susceptible to more infections. In such cases, it is more than necessary to
reduce your sugar intake to boost your immune system’s performance.
The sugar content in your diet should be as low as 5% of your calorie consumption.
Typically this would amount to about 25 grams, or two tablespoons of sugar for a person who has a
diet amounting to 2,000 calories. (Pause)
Wash your hands diligently to help your immune system
Something as simple as regularly washing your hands can help you strengthen your immune system.
Since your hands are perhaps the most active parts of your body,
there is a high likelihood of germs being on them due to contact with many different surfaces.
When you put your hands on your face, you raise the risk of germs entering your body
and weakening your immune system. Consistently washing your hands will eliminate these germs,
allowing your immune system to concentrate on more severe attacks.
Ideally, use antibacterial soap when you’re washing your hands. If you don’t have soap,
hand sanitizer will do as well. You must wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to gain the
maximum benefit. (Pause)
Eating immunity-boosting foods can be a game-changer
One of the most effective ways to strengthen your body’s natural defenses is by eating
natural immunity-boosting foods. Wondering what those are? Let’s take a quick look.
Citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, and clementines contain vitamin C.
Why’s that necessary? Because this particular vitamin increases the
production of white blood cells. It is these white blood cells that fight off infections.
Don’t like eating citrus fruits? No worries. You can opt for red bell peppers and broccoli. They,
too, are rich sources of vitamin C. Make sure you don’t deep fry them or cook them on high
heat. Especially broccoli. The best is to eat them on their own or steam. Research
has shown that steaming is the best way to keep nutrients intact in the food.
If you love adding a little zing to your food, reach out for garlic. Not just for taste but for
its health benefits as well. Garlic has a rich concentration of allicin, which is a sulfur-rich
compound. It’s believed garlic’s immune-boosting properties come from this compound.
Stronger immunity is crucial for your health. Interested in knowing some home
remedies that can keep you fit? Or foods that you should eat daily to stay healthy?
Let’s keep the conversation going with a couple more health-related videos. Shall we?
Watch 6 Easy Home Remedies For A Stronger Immune System
You can also try our video on 16 Alkaline Foods You Must Have In Your Daily Diet
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about staying healthy.
Are you planning on implementing any of these immunity-boosting suggestions?
Let us know in the comments below!