Why You Should Focus On Protecting Your Immune System This Winter

It is the season for fever and colds. As such, it is essential to develop a healthy immune system, which is the body’s self-defence mechanism to prevent getting sick. Immune systems for foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, are on constant alert. But if your immune system is not healthy, it cannot fight the bacteria or virus.

Poor health habits and nutritional deficiencies can compromise the immune system. Moreover, we have fewer immune cells as we age, and these cells do not work well with each other to attack invading viruses and bacteria. That is why maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, supplements, and vitamins, exercise, sleep, and social activities are critical for seniors to optimize your immune system.

Here are the reasons:

1.  It helps to fight against the virus

What you put in your body is essential to keeping you healthy. Good nutrition improves your immunity to fight against viruses (and illness) and allows you to develop faster. Some nutrients are recognized constructors of immunity. Overall, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and fibre, enrich your diet. And in warm chicken soup, which scientists have shown works against cold and flu, seek warmth.

How to develop a good defence against illness with these foods and nutrients

Pump the protein up:

Protein helps sustain and develop strength in your body. Read pharmacy2u reviews; many foods filled with protein often contain B6 and B12 vitamins, which are essential to fueling a healthy immune system. High-protein foods are also abundant in minerals that create immunity, such as selenium and zinc.

Become fruity:

In vegetables, the bright colours, called flavonoids, pack healthy nutrition. In addition to the generous supply of vitamin C from berries, flavonoids that drive the immune system into high gear are filled with soft white skin in citrus fruits such as grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes.

Enlist green team:

Potential, infection-fighting antioxidants in cruciferous vegetables such as kale, collard greens, broccoli, and cabbage. Watercress and arugula can also have antiviral effects and can help to alleviate coughs and chest congestion.

Indulge in D doses:

 Vitamin D also fights against cold and flu, besides building bone strength. Researchers show an increased risk of cold and flu in people with low vitamin D levels. To activate our immune defences, scientists have also found that vitamin D is critical.

2.  When you exercise, it helps to prevent flu

Do not let cold weather keep you from exercising as much as we all want to hunker down for the winter. One research showed that people who exercised five or more days a week were around half as likely as people who exercised less to catch a cold.

More white blood cells, which combat infection, often circulate and get the blood flowing via exercise. And during and right after training, the increase in body temperature can prevent bacteria from growing and help the body better fight infection.

3.  Get Sleep Enough

The immune system works better when it gets enough sleep, just like our minds and moods. Research shows that too little sleep or poor-quality sleep, including in healthy young people, decreases immunity. Each night, strive for at least seven hours of sleep.

4.  Stress Reduction

Continuous stress may decrease your immune response, so you are more susceptible when a virus comes your way. Stress may also cause inadequate sleep and lead to poor nutrition, all of which can affect your immunity.