Health
9 Optimal ways to boost your Immune System W ith the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging lives across the globe, a robust immune system is a wondrous mechanism that can protect you against such a ravenous virus and other diseases. Below are nine ways to help optmise your immune system compiled by Z Hereford and first published on essential life skills.net 1. Get Good Quality Sleep. Good quality sleep is important for a variety of reasons including improving your immune system. In a 2017 study at the University of Washington Medicine Sleep Center where 11 pairs of identical twins were studied, researchers found that those with shorter periods of sleep had weaker
immune systems. Similar studies have shown that a lack of sleep negatively affects all systems in the body including the brain, heart, lungs, and the immune disease-fighting function. While you sleep, your immune system releases cytokines (proteins produced by the body that help fight infections) that are needed to fight infection, inflammation, and stress. Sleep deprivation decreases the body’s production of cytokines. 2. Be More Active and Exercise. There is no question that exercise enhances the immune system. According to Dr. Eudene Harry, medical director at Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center in Strides Magazine
24
February 2021
Florida: “Researchers found that not only did exercise increase immunity up to 10 times immediately after exercise but, in the hours following exercise, the immune cells seem to be sent to areas of the body that are more likely to get infected. Talk about intelligent design-something that we can easily do every day can help us boost our immunity.” Exercise also promotes the rapid and efficient circulation of immune cells (such as white blood cells) which allow the immune system to identify and protect against aggressive, harmful bacteria or viruses. 3. Maintain a Healthy Diet. One of the most balanced and immune-
