How to Strengthen Immune System

The seating arrangement at workplaces are designed in such a manner that maximum space in the office gets utilized. However, this has a drawback. If one person has a cold, it doesn't take long for the others to contract the cold. Moreover, with mounting work pressure people with common colds cannot afford to stay at home for long. So what's the solution? Well, the most appropriate solution would be to strengthen our body's line of defense so that the body can resist infections even though the surrounding air is full of floating viruses!

The different organs of the immune system produce cells that either act as sites for immune function or contribute to the immune response, thereby protecting the body from invasion of bacterial, viral or parasitic invasions.

Strengthening the Immune System Naturally

Balanced Diet

Our eating habits are pathetic these days. We are all aware of the benefits of balanced diet, however, we still fill our bodies with all kinds of junk. The result is our bodies lack the essential vitamins, proteins and minerals required for its functioning. These nutrients are responsible for production and secretion of various hormones and enzymes that are responsible for various functions in the body. Since there is no super food that contains all the essential nutrients our body requires, we need to consume a well-balanced diet that furnishes the body with adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, etc.

Immune System Strengthening Foods

Certain food items are known to boost the body's immune system. For example, the vegetable 'broccoli' is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K and one bowl of broccoli furnishes the body with more vitamin C than a bowl of oranges. The phytochemicals present is good for the blood and helps the build-up of bones. It also contains phytonutrients sulforaphane and indole-3 carbinol, which are strong detoxifying compounds and keeps cancer at bay. Other vegetables like cabbage, yams, carrots, garlic, etc. also boost the immune system of the body. Then there are different types of edible mushrooms, oats, barley, yeast, yogurt, green tea, etc. that boost the immune system. It is also known that unprocessed fermented foods strengthen your immune system.

Vitamins

Immune system cells will not be able to function properly if it isn't provided with the necessary vitamins. Vitamin D in particular is required to produce certain proteins that help destroy germs. Vitamin C on the other hand, plays a significant role in invigorating cells responsible for destroying foreign bodies. Vitamin A helps the body produce enzymes required for destroying germs. It also helps keep the mucus membranes in the body moist (nasal passage, throat lining, etc.), thereby assisting them in trapping germs. Vitamin B helps energize the body's immune system by increasing the count of white blood cells. One can take vitamin supplements to ensure the body gets enough immune system strengthening vitamins.

Physical Exercises

Physical activities like walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, dancing, etc. helps keep one's immune system strong. It is said that moderate exercises strengthen the body's immune system, whereas, intense exercises suppress the immune system's function. Regular exercises can help get rid of airborne bacteria and viruses from the lungs, that can otherwise lead to upper respiratory tract infections. Stretching exercises also help relieve mental tension, anxiety and stress, thereby lowering one's blood pressure and contributing to good sleep.

Besides these above mentioned guidelines, you should also ensure that your body gets enough sleep. This is because while sleeping, the body releases some potent-immune-enhancing compounds that help boost the immune system. Inadequate amounts of sleep can spearhead illness. Moreover, make sure laugh a lot. Laughter is believed to influence the strength of our immune system. So be cheerful and live your life to the fullest!