9 ways to boost your body’s natural immunity

Most of us know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes getting a good night’s rest and eating a balanced diet. However, people are also guilty of only paying attention to their health when they get sick, rather than taking care of themselves all the time in order to improve the mechanisms their bodies use to fight off illness and soothe stress.

There are some solutions to supporting your immune system that are more practical and simpler than you might think.

Here are 9 ways to boost your body’s natural defences that are all science and no hype.

Be mindful of your sleep pattern

According to Harvard University, poor sleep means a slow and grumpy immune system triggering inflammation in the body. Seven to nine hours of sleep are recommended for adults, and longer for younger adults or children. Pay attention to what time your body naturally feels inclined to wake up and how much sleep you need to feel alert and well and try maintain this sleep pattern.

Stay hydrated

We all know the advice of “drink eight glasses of water a day”, but each body differs. It’s important to listen to your body and ensure you’re not letting yourself ‘get thirsty’. Staying hydrated is essential for detoxification pathways to do their job.

Increase plant-based foods

The general rule of thumb is that half your plate needs to be filled with colourful fruits and vegetables. When you’re preparing your dinner start by deciding which fruits and vegetables will be featured, and then add meat and starch to compliment. Many plant foods help reduce inflammation, which means a healthy immune system can respond quicker to identifying and eliminating pathogens before they become a problem.

Get grounded

Grounding, aka Earthing, is the act of walking barefoot on the earth, be it on sand, dirt or grass, which electrically connects you to the earth. Electrical charges from the earth can have a positive effect on your body. Here’s an article which talks about this popular movement in more depth.

Pay attention to stress

Stress weakens your immune system. Try to pay attention during times of stress, and look for healthy coping mechanisms to support you, whether that’s reaching out to loved ones, engaging in hobbies, exercising, resting or reading.

Nurture your gut microbiota

Probiotics nature your gut bacteria and help balance the gut biome, which are important to supporting immunity. Natural probiotic foods include yogurt, sourdough bread and kimchi.

Dance and move your body

Most of us know that moderate exercise helps to boost immunity and lowers your risk of chronic disease. Did you know a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine states that dancing benefits overall health by strengthening the immune system? What a wonderful way to get your exercise in – by dancing in the lounge to your favourite tunes. Tai Chi is also known to improve immune related health concerns.

Take care of your skin

We are born with innate immune mechanisms that detect and block germs from entering our body, and this includes your skin. Eating a healthy balanced diet and staying hydrated will ensure your skin is healthy.

Keep up with check ups

It’s a good idea to have an annual check-up with your GP. General health checks are associated with increased chronic disease recognition and treatment, risk factor control and improved outcomes.

There are two things we believe in here at Nutrient Rescue; prevention is better than cure, and a healthy balanced diet is the foundation to good health. If you’re struggling to get your 5+ recommended servings of fruit and vegetables a day, then give our Double Shot a try. Each shot gives you 4 of your 5+ a day in a simple and convenient way.

And remember to keep dancing…