5 surprising ways to boost your immune system…and 3 not-so-surprising ways
With COVID and the flu season in full swing, you may be looking for anything that will help build your immune system. I went snooping around the internet and found some surprising things that may help…and certainly can’t hurt.
Please remember I am not a doctor or medical expert of any kind. I don’t even play one on television (shocking, I know, considering the number of medical dramas streaming at any given moment). And I am not suggesting you rely on these tips over the more traditional methods of protecting yourself from illness. I propose these as fun supplements to vaccinations, masks, and good hygiene.
5 surprising ways to boost your immune system
1 Curl up with a good novel, write in your journal, or spend time on the yoga mat. Actually carve out some time in the day to do whatever it is that helps you relax. While it’s difficult to study stress in a controlled way that leads to a solid scientific conclusion about stress’s effect on the immune system, Spanish scientists report that stress reduces the body’s production of virus-fighting T cells. You need all the T cells you can get right now, so take a few deep breaths and relax.
2 Put on a pair of cozy socks. A study out of the UK’s University of Cardiff found that keeping your feet warm reduces your risk of getting sick by 10 percent. When your feet are cold, blood vessels throughout the body tighten, making it difficult for white blood cells to travel to membranes in your nose and throat, where they’re needed to fend off viruses.
3 Visualize what it’s like to be ill. This one sounds weird and the opposite of the positive thinking most of us try to practice. However, Canadian scientists say spending 10 minutes looking at pictures of people who are sick (like those you’d see in cold medicine ads) activates the genes that produce proteins to energize immune cells.
4 Indulge in a few squares of dark chocolate. This one comes from Australian scientists, who say eating a few squares of dark chocolate daily makes you 33 percent less likely to get sick and reduces the length of a cold by 40 percent if you do catch one. Dark chocolate is rich in plant compounds that can block the replication of viruses in your system. Be careful with this one, though, as eating or drinking too much sugar curbs immune system cells that attack bacteria. This effect lasts for at least a few hours after downing a couple of sugary drinks.
5 Watch a scary movie. Stanford University scientists say short bouts of fun tension, such as watching a scary movie, can improve your immune response. The temporary rise in the body’s “fight-or-flight” hormones tells immune cells to move quickly into the bloodstream, where they spread throughout the body, protecting you from illness-causing pathogens.
3 not-so-surprising ways to boost your immune system
1. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables. Like any fighting force, healthy immune system warriors need good, regular nourishment.
2. Exercise regularly. Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system.
3. Get plenty of sleep. Not getting enough sleep can lead to higher levels of a stress hormone and more inflammation in your body, both of which have negative effects on your immune system. Also, studies show that well-rested people who received the flu vaccine developed stronger protection against the illness.
Your turn
- What is your go-to immune system builder?
- Will you try one of the 5 surprising ways to build your immune system?
- What is your favorite fruit or vegetable? Do you typically get the recommended 5 a day?
Sources
https://www.womansworld.com/posts/health/surprising-ways-boost-immunity
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/10-immune-system-busters-boosters#1
Cozy socks and dark chocolate, yes. Scary movie, never. My go-to immune system builder is lots of hot tea, black tea or peppermint. Just keep the warmth moving through me. Apples are my favorite fruit, so eating them helps me too. After that it’s caution and prayer, I guess.
I’m with you on the scary movies, Ally. It’s never been my thing. I like apples too, though I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite. There aren’t many fruits I don’t like.
Absolutely ditto what Ally said. Yes to chocolate, cozy socks and a good book. As #5A would greatly interfer with #3B, I will give that one a miss!
Good point, Donna. I’m not a big fan of the scary movies either. I don’t mind a psychological thriller once in a while if done well, but I don’t like the slasher, horror movies at all.
I do all of these things, except I often struggle with sleep. Ok, and I can’t honestly say I’ve visualized what being sick is like. I might have to work on that one.? I wouldn’t have thought all these helped my immune system!
That visualizing being sick was a little weird for me too. I’m not sure I want to try that one. Give me a good book, cozy socks, and some chocolate, though, and I’m all in!
I’m mostly in, except for the visualizing illness and dark chocolate (I prefer milk chocolate). I don’t watch many scry movies but they can be fun. Apples are my favorite fruit. And, if you have any suggestions on getting a good night’s sleep, I’m all ears 🙂
Oh, I am a big fan of dark chocolate, Janis, but like you, I find the idea of visualizing illness a little uncomfortable. Apples are high on my list of favorite fruits, but I also love berries and melon. I don’t think I can choose one favorite. I have some sleeping tips and have done a couple of posts on that topic, but I suspect it isn’t anything you haven’t heard before. I did take a Master Class on sleep and found it very enlightening.
Numbers 1, 2, and 4 are standard for me. Dark chocolate isn’t every day – but I have a probiotic chocolate piece – low sugar, small portion that I eat many days. I also drink a daily smoothy that includes a powder mix I make that is an immune booster: turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, chia, flax, dark chocolate, (no sugar), oat bran, whey protein — all powders. I add collagen and beet powder. Full cup of berries, pineapple, papaya, and frozen avocado. I’d say breakfast gets me at least 2/3 to 5 servings, right?
Anyway – love your post!
It sounds like you are getting your produce, Janet. Good for you! And it sounds yummy too. I have added avocado to my smoothie before, but never frozen. The thought never occurred to me. Here’s to good health!
Cozy socks only work in Florida for about 4 weeks! I actually put on warm socks yesterday for first time this season (it is below 50 at night right now). One thing I do for my immune system (and not on your list) is take probiotics… which also helps my digestive system. It’s nice to know that my journaling, reading, yoga, and eating dark chocolate also help. But I’m also a “no” to scary movies!
Good point, Pat. There’s not much sense in padding around in cozy socks in the heat. I actually prefer bare feet to socks, so that would work for me. You are the second person to mention probiotics. I might have to do some further research into that. I’m with you on the yes to reading, yoga, journaling, and dark chocolate but no to scary movies. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t like horror movies, but I do on occasion enjoy a movie that has some scary parts. That said, I like a little humor or other feel-good mixed in with the tension. I can’t take two hours of being on edge.