Can You Really Strengthen Your Immune System? We Bust the Myths!
Can you really strengthen your immune system? We bust the myths! If you scroll through social media or any health blog, it's likely you'll come across some tips to boost your immune system or a post recommending the "best vitamins to boost your immune system." But can you really strengthen your immune system? The answer to that question is not as simple as you might think.
First, we have to think about what "boosting" the immune system actually means. The truth is, if you were to take a vitamin or supplement that could really boost your immune system, you might not be too happy with the results! You see, a healthy immune system is not only about being strong, but also about being balanced. If our immune system was actually "boosted", it is likely that there would be frequent overreactions, that the immune cells would not be able to properly distinguish between foreign/invading cells and self cells, and the end result would be a life of autoimmunity and/or allergic reactions. and it's probably not what you had in mind!
When people think of immunity boosters, what they often look for are ways to support immunity naturally - that's a big difference! Supporting natural immunity is the process of giving the body what it needs to facilitate a proper (balanced) immune response. A big part of this is making sure that sufficient vitamins and minerals are available so that the immune system can carry out the reactions that prevent foreign cells, bacteria, viruses, etc. from invading our healthy bodies. Below, we will review what can be done to help your immune system.
Healthy food for immunity
A big part of supporting the natural immune system is a healthy diet! Certain foods are well known for their immune system supporting properties, such as garlic, turmeric, leafy greens and various berries. These all have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and are also highly nutritious, meaning your system gets a whole lot of health-supporting elements with every bite! You may notice some of these ingredients in Aarja Health products, such as curcumin, ginger, lingonberry and blueberry, and that's no coincidence. When nature provides us with such wholesome foods, we must use its gifts!
For natural immunity = manage your stress and regular exercise
For many people, stress management is a critical component of ensuring that our immune system remains strong. Although short periods of stress are a natural (healthy) response, prolonged stress takes a significant part of the power of our immune system. This means that engaging in regular stress management techniques - such as meditation, daily movement and stretching, creative activities and hobbies - can actually help keep your immune system in top shape. Another form of stress management is exercise, which in itself can also benefit the immune system! With the body's adaptations after exercise and by improving circulation, physical activity is an excellent way to support the natural immune system.
Sleep = supports the entire immune system
Did you know that sleep also benefits the immune system? That's right, while you get some sleep, this is a critical rest period for the body that allows us to perform well-balanced immune responses. In fact, sleep affects both branches of our immune system - the innate and the adaptive - giving us a well-balanced response with appropriate levels of inflammation and cellular memory so that we are prepared for the next opportunity of infection!
For a healthy immune response = be outdoors in daylight!
Spending time outdoors is also another great way to boost your immune system. Whether you're out for a brisk walk around the neighborhood, an outdoor hike, swimming, or biking, you'll be getting the sunshine vitamin our immune system needs to run on all cylinders! The effect of sunlight on our skin is to convert inactive vitamin D into its active (usable) form, which then has multiple effects on immune cells throughout our body. It is so important that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infection. As you can see, proper vitamin D levels are a necessary part of maintaining immune balance! But what happens when it's freezing outside and your sun exposure is limited? Don't worry, you don't have to ski in a bathing suit, we can help!
Food supplements for the immune system
Whether colder weather has kept you indoors, or maybe you just want to be extra sure you're getting the right nutrition for immunity, vitamin and mineral supplements can be a great way to make sure your immune cells have exactly what they need. need to protect you! Having said that, however, content and quality should have absolute priority. After all, your body must be able to recognize and use these vitamins for them to be effective. Fortunately, we've spent countless hours formulating and developing products that are not only of the purest quality, but are so unique that we combine some of the healthiest foods on the planet to bring nature's bounty into effective, easy-to-take supplements.
Some of our favorites when it comes to immunity are Vitamin D3 with lingonberry , OptiMSM+C and blueberries, Vitamin C with zinc and chaga and finally Curcumin with ginger and B12 . Each of these contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant nutrients that support natural immunity with the added benefit of the plant compounds found in these nutritious foods! Be sure to check them out in our online store and stock up before the cold winter weather hits!
We hope you've learned a little here today - mainly that we shouldn't focus on boosting the immune system as much as we should support its natural balance. Some of the best ways to do that are with proper diet, exercise, stress management, sleep, and of course by incorporating some of the best immune support supplements available. When we focus on the whole body and provide it with some of nature's healthiest foods, we can stay healthy all year round!
