As we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us are wondering how we can boost our immune systems. You most likely know you should take more Vitamin C, but here are some other ways you can give your immunity a powerful boost.
Tackle That Stress
When we’re stressed, our bodies produce stress hormones like cortisol, which weaken our immune system. This means when we are under chronic stress, our immune system is under constant attack. It’s important to find healthy ways to tackle stress. Try exercise, meditation and psychotherapy to help relieve the burden.
Eat Right
When you eat a typical Standard American Diet (SAD), full of refined grains, sugars and unhealthy fats, you change your gut’s microbiome (the beneficial bacteria). And guess where 80% of your immune system is? In your gut! Eat a healthy diet of grass-fed meats, dairy, and organic produce to give your body the nutrients it needs to be healthy and to keep your gut microbiome nice and strong.
Exercise
Exercise is important to keep our heart, muscles, and bones strong. But in addition, exercise helps us burn through those stress hormones I talked about a little while ago. And, research has found that even a little bit of exercise can improve microbiome diversity, which leads to a stronger immune system.
Get More Sleep
You most likely know that when you don’t get enough sleep, you feel cranky and in a fog the next day. But what you may not know is that too little sleep night after night decreases our immune function. Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Do your best to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Also, put those electrical devices away at night. The blue light those devices emit interferes with your body’s natural sleep cycle.
These four things may seem like common sense, but are you actually doing them? Making some lifestyle changes to ensure you are tackling stress, eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep will keep your immune system strong so it can keep you healthy.
Resources:
* https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/best-immunity-boosters
* https://heavy.com/health/immunity-boosters
* https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system/
If you find yourself struggling to cope during the pandemic, and you’d like to talk to someone, please call us at 718/577-2583 to set up a free 15-minute consultation. All American Psychiatric Practice. We’re here to help you.
