4 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

The COVID-19 health crisis may have taught you that good health is your greatest asset. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to boost your immune system by building good habits. These habits help your general well-being while also helping you get sick less and for shorter periods. These habits will also help build resilience against diseases, as a healthy immune system is the result of abundant Qi. Furthermore, they also support your mental well-being because you don’t always feel your health is at risk.

To have a more robust immune system, you need to eat the right food, exercise your mind and body, and take the necessary supplements. Doing the opposite, however, can be very harmful to your well-being. Having an unbalanced diet and not taking the correct supplements may mean that your body isn’t getting the nutrients that it needs. Additionally, living an inactive lifestyle may make your body more susceptible to diseases and other risks. 

People with weaker immune systems are more likely to develop severe symptoms when infected by most illnesses. Additionally, they also take much longer to recover. Even common illnesses like the flu or basic cold can be problematic to those with weak immune systems.

It is for these reasons that you have to strengthen your immune system. You can do this immediately by making a few simple lifestyle changes. Here are four natural, research-backed habits you can build to help you get the boost your immune system needs.

Have a better diet and boost your immune system

You need to have a balanced diet if you want to strengthen your immune system. By ensuring that your body gets the nutrients it needs, you improve your overall immune response against viruses, bacteria, and other free radicals.

Free radicals are components that can weaken, damage, and kill cell functions when found in large quantities. When left unchecked, they can cause numerous health problems, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, they can also accelerate aging processes causing the appearance of wrinkles.

To combat their harmful effect, regularly consuming fruits and vegetables that are packed with antioxidants will help. Many fruits and vegetables are also full of vitamins and minerals that help to strengthen your immune system.

In addition to giving a boost to your immune system, fresh produce is also rich in nutrients that your body needs to function properly. Green vegetables are rich in iron, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals that provide all sorts of benefits to your body.

We recommend incorporating the following fruits and vegetables into your diet to get the most significant boost to your immune system:

• Citrus fruits (e.g., oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruits, and limes)
• These are rich in Vitamin C, which provides an overall boost to your immune system.
• Red Bell Peppers
• These are also rich in Vitamin C while also providing additional minerals, like potassium.
• Broccoli
• This vegetable contains acids that regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Spinach
• This leafy vegetable is rich in protein and iron, which help in overall body health and development.
• Papaya
• This tropical fruit is rich in fiber which helps your bodily functions like blood circulation and bowel movements.
• Kiwi
• This large berry is rich in both Vitamin C and fiber and is a good source of both.

Energize and boost your immune system by working out

Having an established exercise routine can be a great way to boost your immune system. Additionally, exercising several times a week can improve your mood and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, not all exercise activities are the same. For example, cardiovascular exercises like running, biking, and swimming can improve your heart rate. On the other hand, weightlifting can improve your body strength while also reducing anxiety.

Mind-body therapies Yoga and Tai Chi are both low-impact exercises that help to boost the immune system. Both of these can relieve regular stress, which, when left unchecked, can weaken your body’s natural immune system response. Additionally, mind-body therapies can also reduce markers of inflammation and influence virus-specific immune responses.

If you’re specifically looking to boost your immune system, we strongly recommend Yoga and Tai Chi. These therapies have a low barrier of entry as they don’t require specialized equipment, unlike biking or weights. Because of how accessible they are, it’s easy for people to do them regularly. This is important because they have to be practiced often and consistently to get the most benefits.

However, while yoga and Tai Chi may have similar benefits, they are not the same.

You Need To Know That Yoga Can Boost Your Immune System

Yoga is a 5000-year-old mind-body exercise that sees its roots in India. Originally, it was meant for religious purposes and was more than exercise and breathing. One would meditate to prepare one’s mental state to help search for inner peace and happiness.

However, in the West, it is primarily the act of holding particular poses that will help strengthen your core and reduce stress - all while moving at a slow pace from one pose into the next. Focus is placed on the breath, which can help with deeper, more impactful poses.

While Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, it has become trendy in modern times. There are currently over 6,000 yoga studios in the U.S.

Along with its benefits for immunity, many people turn to yoga to help with:

• Balancing blood pressure
• Getting a better night's sleep
• Helping to alleviate chronic pain
• Reducing weight
• Improving flexibility and strength 

Tai Chi may be better for boosting your immune system

Like Yoga, Tai Chi is thousands of years old and originates from an Eastern country, China. However, Tai Chi focuses on balancing one’s yin and yang energies through slow and controlled movement rather than breathing techniques and poses.

Tai Chi promotes movement in the body through slow, determined motions that can resemble a dance. Like yoga but perhaps with greater, more focused intent, Tai Chi incorporates breathing techniques and meditation.

Beyond assisting with the immune system, many people begin Tai Chi to help with:

• Better overall balance (physically and spiritually)
• Invigoration of internal organs
• Promotion of awareness and stress relief
• Bolstering digestion
• Assists with gas exchange in the lungs

Embracing a positive attitude may also support your immune system

This pointer may seem a little strange to you at first. However, research shows that there is a clear connection between your emotions and immune response. In other words, adopting a positive attitude towards daily life could help to improve your body’s response to germs. Additionally, looking at life with a positive outlook can help fight off illnesses and recover from them more quickly.

But positivity is not just about smiling all the time. It’s also about what you focus on and value. For example, positive people tend to focus more on the good things that happen during their day than the bad. Optimistic people also tend to practice gratitude and find humor in everyday things. Finally, they also tend to surround themselves with other positive people.

But what can help you embrace more positivity in your life?

• Begin to disassociate yourself from negative people
• Be kind to others and enjoy the effects of Karma
• Learn to celebrate the little things
• Awake each day with positive intentions and goals
• Focus your bedtime thoughts on the positives of each day

However, approaching life with a more positive frame of mind isn’t a change that happens overnight. Changing your perspective on life may take a long time. But if you are serious about boosting your immune system, it may be worth it to take strides to adopt a more positive attitude.

Take natural, immunity-strengthening supplements

Herbs like ledebouriella have been used for generations in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to boost the immune system naturally. These herbs can lift our energy in the TCM model, traditionally known as qi, and support the immune system response in the TCM model.

We offer a capsule called Force Field that contains ledebouriella and other herbs that can strengthen your immune system. The all-natural formula combines several complementary TCM herbs that can help to keep your immune system strong. This includes herbs like astragalus, cordyceps, reishi, gynostemma, and more. Check out our article on why it's essential to use the best ingredients for these medicinal herbs here.

A more robust immune system can not only keep us from becoming ill more often but it can also:

• Speed up recovery times
• Combat fatigue and exhaustion
• Provide more energy
• Help with insomnia and sleeplessness
• Provide better mental awareness
• Reduce stress

If you'd also like to add stress relief to your daily to-do list, you'll definitely want to explore the benefits of Just Breathe - also from Balance Blends.

Check out our other posts to help boost your immune system today!

Natural Immunity Boosters:
https://balanceblends.com/blogs/news/65129669-natural-immune-boosters-healthy-herbal-remedies-that-power-up-your-qi-energy

3 Immunity-Boosting Herbs:
https://balanceblends.com/blogs/news/3-herbs-that-boost-your-immune-system

Digging Deeper in the Force Field Capsules:
https://balanceblends.com/blogs/news/digging-deeper-into-the-force-field-capsules