Immune Support, Informative
Boost Your Immune Defense: Proven Strategies for Optimal Wellness
May
In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining a strong immune defense has never been more crucial. Your immune system is a powerful ally, tirelessly working to protect you against harmful pathogens and keep you healthy.
But how can you optimize your immune defense and support its natural abilities?
We’re sharing some effective strategies and natural remedies to help you enhance your immune system and foster optimal wellness.
6 strategies for naturally boosting your immune defenses
1. Eat immune-boosting foods
If your body is a well-tuned automobile, food is the fuel that powers it. You have a lot of choices of fuel in today’s market. Much like gasoline, there is a range of quality of foods. If you consistently put the lowest quality (cheapest) gasoline in your car, eventually the engine gets dirty and doesn’t run as well.
Just the same, if you are always fueling your body with the lowest quality of foods (likely the cheapest) eventually you experience problems like illness and your body doesn’t work as well.
Does that mean you need lots of money to eat healthy?
Absolutely not.
Just because low quality foods are usually the cheapest, does NOT mean that nutrient-rich foods are only for rich folks. It does not require extra dollars to pack your diet with nutrient-rich superfoods, but it DOES require some extra effort and a little bit of discipline.
Here’s a quick dollar-for-dollar comparison of a popular snack vs. a nutrient-rich superfood:
A bag of popular salty corn chips is about 0.5-0.6 pounds of chips, made of 23 different ingredients – no, not just corn and salt. That’s going to cost about $4.38 at your big corp grocery store.
Nutritional breakdown:
- Calories: 1,350
- Fat: 63g
- Sodium: 2,520mg
- Carbs: 162g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 18g
- Calcium: 270mg
- Iron: 2.7mg
- Potassium: 450mg
For a similar price of $4.42, at that same big corp grocery store, you can get 1.125 pounds of fresh blueberries.
Nutritional breakdown:
- Calories: 302
- Fat: 1.8g
- Sodium: 3.6mg
- Carbs: 77g
- Fiber: 13g
- Protein: 4g
- Calcium: 32.4mg
- Iron:1.5mg
- Potassium: 410mg
- Magnesium: 32mg
- Zinc: 0.9mg
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Phosphorus
I will concede some advantages of the salty corn chips, but the total nutritional value – and long-term value to you – is much higher in the blueberries.
We’re not going to give that big corp grocery store any extra help by giving them a backlink, but if you would like to verify our cost and nutritional information, you should be able to do so at your local grocery store. That’s where it really matters after all. Your local results will vary from what we’ve provided, but the comparison should hold up in most cases.
There are also many more ways to substitute lower quality food options with comparable or cheaper nutrient-rich foods. This was only one example. Maybe we need to write another blog…
Next!
2. Prioritize your sleep!
We are particularly enthusiastic about prioritizing sleep. In fact, we’ve already published a few blog posts on the topic.
Allow me to summarize the importance of sleep for your immune system. When you sleep your body produces these things called cytokines. These cytokines are responsible for telling your immune system there is a problem and how to respond.
If you don’t prioritize your sleep, your body doesn’t produce the amount of cytokines it needs to help your immune system keep up with incoming threats. Most of us are guilty of sacrificing our sleep for work, for one more episode of your favorite series, for one more game, for one more round, and the list goes on.
As an exception, that doesn’t hurt much. Your body can get back on track the next day/night, and you’re good. However, a pattern of sacrificing your sleep for (fill in the blank) will quickly cost you your health.
Prioritizing your sleep means drawing a hard line at night when you start your sleep routine and sticking to it on a consistent basis. It also means putting your phone down. You aren’t prioritizing your sleep when you scroll yourself into the next morning. Leave your phone in another room outside of your bedroom if you can.
Have some respect for yourself and your health, and prioritize your sleep!
3. Don’t sleep on stress management…
Similar to sleep, folks tend to underestimate the importance of managing stress.
I know… that’s easier said than done. One does not simply decide to start managing stress and make everything better with the wave of a jedi hand.
So where can you start?
Stress doesn’t always have an obvious cause. Do some searching for the cause. Don’t be afraid to solicit advice from those people closest to you that might have a view of what’s causing your stress that you can’t see.
A lot of folks might look at their workload as their first suspected source of stress. What’s important to understand before analyzing work as your cause of stress, is understanding two things.
- What fulfills you.
- What is your capacity.
If you are doing something that fulfills you, but you are trying to work at 200% capacity, you are never going to outrun that stress.
Just the same, maybe you aren’t at your capacity at work but you also aren’t doing something that fulfills you. You may not be super busy, but that can be just as stressful to be giving so much of yourself to something that doesn’t fill your cup.
Once you’ve honed in on your source of stress, you need a plan of action for how to manage it. You can’t necessarily make a source of stress just go away because you’ve identified it. Once you’ve identified it, you can make it more predictable, and you can give yourself an opportunity to minimize the impacts of that stress.
4. Stay active!
Engaging in regular exercise not only strengthens your body but also boosts your immune system. Physical activity improves circulation, promotes the efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients, and enhances the production of immune cells.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or yoga can all contribute to a robust immune system. These are the natural remedies available to us for free out in nature. You don’t need a gym membership or any equipment. Simply lace up your shoes, stretch (don’t underestimate this step either), and get your oxygen pumping.
5. Armor up with immune support supplements
In addition to a healthy diet, certain natural supplements can provide an extra boost to your immune defense. Vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, quercetin, cordyceps and hemp are a strong combination known for their immune-supporting properties.
We have conveniently packaged all of these powerful vitamins and nutrients together into one immune boosting capsule.
Yes, we’re biased about this one. You would be too if you heard the stories we’ve heard about how our Immune Armor formula has helped folks stay healthy, enabling them to visit family that they were previously not able to visit because they were always sick.
Stories about finally making it through a work trip without getting sick during or after.
Stories about legitimately feeling more able to be present with family.
We’re biased because we want to share these gifts with YOU. Give your body the things it needs to feel better, and be better equipped to face your daily challenges.
Remember to consult with your healthcare professional before starting any new supplements, as individual needs may vary.
6. Natural remedies for the win!
Throughout history, nature has provided us with powerful remedies to strengthen our immune system.
How else did y’all think we got this far?
Nature is pretty darned amazing, and if we pay attention, nature can be better at solving most things than we humans are.
Incorporate herbal teas like chamomile, echinacea, and green tea into your daily routine. Immune-boosting herbs like astragalus, reishi mushroom, and ginseng have also been used for centuries to enhance vitality. Research their benefits and consult with an herbalist or naturopath for personalized recommendations.
There is an entire world of natural remedies that you probably aren’t aware of. Give yourself a chance to discover some of nature’s greatest gifts.
Your immune defense is a remarkable system that deserves your attention and care. Set aside all of your other trendy diets and life things, and try a holistic approach to strengthening your immune system. The rewards are surprising.
Feel better today, y’all!