So to me, having a healthy immune system, is really just that abundance of
vibrancy, vitality, and health and it's important to me because I lead a really
busy life. I have a lot going on between work and following my passions and being
with the people I love and I don't want to miss any of it. Wondering how to boost
your immune system? You might be interested in Ayurveda. It's a holistic
approach to health and healing that originated in India about 5000 years ago.
It utilizes the laws of nature in all its many forms to create a unique path
to your most ideal state of Health. The Ayurvedic perspective on achieving
strong immune health might surprise you. According to Ayurveda the first thing to
do is strengthen your digestion by eating meals at regular times and
choosing foods that are easy to digest. In Ayurveda a strong digestive fire is
the key to year-round health. How do you know if you're digesting well? Well for
me it's pretty simple, I just feel really good. Rather than feeling uncomfortable
in my body with bloating or gas or tiredness or a heavy mind I just feel
really good. I feel comfortable, I feel at ease, I feel
energized and excited to meet the day. Also be sure to include immune boosting foods
in your diet. You can think of foods that boost the immune system in two ways:
foods that are easy to digest and foods that offer support. The former are things
like Kitchari, a traditional Indian dish made of rice, mung beans and spices it's
so easy to digest that it's often given to the elderly, to the ill and even to
babies. The reason that easy to digest foods are so important is because it
gives your body a break. Rather than using energy to break down foods,
your body can use that energy to build and strengthen healthy immune function.
In general basmati rice and mung dal can also be enjoyed individually. Soups
stews and broths are other great easy to digest foods
foods that offers support include things that are rich in vitamins and minerals
such as tumeric ginger, echinacea, vegetables and fruits. Just be sure to
avoid foods that are cold oily and heavy things like cheese, ice cream, yogurt,
potato chips and fried foods. According to Ayurveda these foods have the
qualities of cold heavy and wet which bog down the immune system and keep it
from proper function. Next get good quality sleep by going to bed and rising
at the same time daily aiming for eight hours of quality sleep per night. Sleep
is so important it should not be overlooked. For me, if I'm not getting
enough sleep, I notice immediately a snowball effect of just feeling more and
more and tired and rundown. On the other hand if I am getting enough
sleep, I feel consistently energized
replenished and refreshed I feel like I can handle whatever stress may come my
way I feel excited about the day. Finally have a daily supportive routine this is
way more important than you would think
you know how when you travel and you end up needing and days to recover? well it's
not just because the airplane was dirty but it's also often because you're
totally stressed out, you're staying up too late, you're waking up too early,
you're eating weird foods and your body is totally thrown off whack. Creating
stability with predictable self-care behaviors can make all the difference
and keep your body from getting off balance.
Ayurvedic things to include in a daily routine are things like scraping
your tongue, oil swishing, daily self massage with oil etc just think about
giving your body little anchor points of stability and familiarity. So, start there.
If you can nail these simple basics, you're likely to see a huge difference
in the function of your immune system. If you want bonus points you can try
these too. Minimize stress, give yourself permission to slow down, to nourish
yourself and to take care of yourself. Take bitter herbs like immune strong
liquid extract or tabs. Herbs can be a huge ally in bringing strength and
balance to the body which in turn bolsters and strengthens the immune
system. Bitter herbs help to cleanse and detoxify the body which help to boost
the immune system. Even if you have a sweet tooth you can still get your herbs
in. Chyavanprash is perfect for this. It's a traditional Ayurvedic jam that is
made with immune boosting herbs and mixed with cane sugar, honey and ghee,
which carry the herbs deeper into the tissues of the body. It's delicious! I eat
it by the spoonful. lastly use Nasya oil to soothe and cleanse the nasal passages
and sinuses. Proper use of Nasya oil helps to
relieve congested breathing and boost proper immune function. So go forth
and be healthy!