Maintaining good health involves multiple factors and isn’t as simple as making one or two tweaks in your lifestyle. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your health and immune system, particularly during the current pandemic, we’ve compiled seven handy tips for you. Each tip won’t incur any additional expense, showing you can promote your health without straining your finances.
1. DRINK WATER
Many individuals underestimate the importance of staying hydrated. Many of us opt for beverages other than water, unknowingly causing dehydration. Dehydration induces oxidative stress in the body, which can result in inflammation and overtaxing the immune system. To enhance your health, increasing your water intake is a straightforward strategy. Each individual’s daily water requirement varies depending on factors like activity level, age, gender, health conditions, and weight. A simple guideline is to consume ounces of water that half your weight in pounds. For example, a 200-pound person should aim for at least 100 ounces of water daily.
2. REST WELL
Obtaining enough sleep without any extra cost can significantly improve your overall health. A lot of us are getting less than the recommended eight hours of sleep every night, which has been linked to greater susceptibility to illness. Even if you start by adding just 15 minutes to your nightly sleep, it can make a difference.
3. MANAGE STRESS
Stress has a significant impact on your overall health and immune function as it increases the production of corticosteroids, a hormone that reduces the immune system’s efficiency. As many of us live in a world full of stressors, finding natural ways to lower your stress levels can help boost your health. Strategies can include disconnecting from social media, practicing deep breathing, walking, and pursuing hobbies.
4. BREATHE WELL
Breathing properly to ensure optimal oxygenation of your red blood cells is an overlooked aspect of health. Ways to enhance your oxygen levels include eating more oxygen-rich foods, drinking more water, and spending time walking in nature.
5. MOVE AROUND
Incorporating moderate exercise into your routine can boost your immune system. It is beneficial to engage in activities like brisk walking, jump rope, gardening, hiking, biking, skating, and swimming for at least 30 minutes a day.
6. CONSUME PLANT-BASED FOODS
Consuming more plant-based foods can reduce your food costs and enhance your immune system. Varied intake of fruits and vegetables provides plenty of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. Aim for a colorful variety in your diet to improve your gut microbiome.
7. REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE
Most processed foods contain more sugar than you might realize, and excess sugar can negatively affect your immune system’s function and hormone levels. One of the best ways to handle this is to eat whole foods and carefully read product labels to avoid hidden sugars.
Overall, these simple, cost-free strategies can significantly boost your health and immunity. Concentrating on one or two areas at a time could form a good starting point. So, what are some ways you’ve discovered to naturally boost your health and immune system?
