Eating a healthy meal or adhering to the right diet will prevent you from being unnecessarily sick and should you fall sick, will help you recover quickly. The immune system helps in the fight infections and bacteria in your body that causes you to fall sick. It is also made of some powerful bacteria in your gut which fight for your health.
However, there are some foods and practices one can engage in that help you to recover from sickness faster as they boost your immune system. Here are some foods and practices you can use to boost your immune system.
1. Strengthen your guts
You GI tract, which is in your guts, comprises of over 70% of the bacteria which serves as your immune system, therefore, a strong immune system relies on a strong gut. They help to regulate metabolism, hunger and the immune system. They reduce inflammation and prevent infection. You can strengthen your gut by taking some fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, yogurt and others.
2. Antioxidants
Eat foods that are high in antioxidants such as fruits, green leafy foods and others. These have anti-inflammatory properties which will build up on your immune system. This means avoid eating fats and other meals that are inflammatory such as processed foods since they contain high amounts of sugar.
3. Zinc
Zinc is a much needed nutrient for the immune system. In fact, studies have shown it can stop flu cells from replicating for some time allowing the bacteria to finish off the hostile bacteria in your system. Whenever you have a cold, you can simply take 25 mg of zinc per day not permanently though i.e. the 25 mg zinc. Some zinc containing foods are spinach, oysters, beans nuts and others.
4. Keeping surfaces clean
One can contract these flues and other sicknesses from contaminated objects. It is therefore important to keep surfaces clean. Use good detergents to clean surfaces. Also, one can use oil from tea trees or equal proportions of vinegar and water to treat psoriasis, nail fungus and acne.
5. Exercise and sleep
Apart from looking fit and losing weight, exercise helps to boost your immune system as you burn some calories. This will help to reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu. However, sleep is also just as important as it helps your body to build or repair damaged tissues. Besides, it will benefit you more, if in addition, you can take some 20-minute power nap during the day.
Image courtesy of: journal.sociolla.com, ucdintegrativemedicine.com.