5 Quick & Easy Ways To Supercharge Your Immune System
Article Found on MindBodyGreen
Real talk: These days, almost all of us lead crazy-busy lives. Even with some great self-care practices in place, stress can sometimes get the best of us, compromising our immune systems and making us feel run-down. We all know the importance of keeping our immune systems in tiptop shape—but with so many other things to juggle between job responsibilities, family time, and trying to squeeze in exercise, figuring out how to boost your immunity can feel like a job in itself.
What many people don’t know is that supporting your immune system doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. In fact, it can be pretty easy! Here are five expert tips to supercharge your system:
1. Get your zzz’s.
We know, we know, you’ve heard this one a thousand times. But that doesn’t make it any less true! Sleep deprivation can make you feel under the weather for longer than if you were getting your recommended seven to nine hours each night. That’s reason enough to prioritize a good night’s rest!
2. Stock up on vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a physiological antioxidant and can help support the function of immune cells. Great food sources of vitamin C are peppers, citrus fruits, berries, and vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, so make sure you include those foods in your diet every day.
3. Support your gut health.
You may be familiar with the idea that 70 percent of your immune system resides in your gut. Taking a daily probiotic, or better yet, taking BIOHM Immunity (Probiotic Supplement + Vitamin C), is a great way to tend to your microbiome and encourage balance between bacteria and fungi in the GI tract. It has added vitamin C, which will help you maintain optimal immune and digestive health.
4. Up your intake of greens.
Summer makes it easy to fit in your greens: It’s a time full of green juice, salads heaping with arugula, and ice-cold smoothies with spinach. But the rest of the year, it’s easy to skimp on your daily intake of greens that are great for overall health and the immune system. Soups are a great way to make sure you’re getting your daily dose of green things, and there are so many fun, savory ways to use kale, broccoli, and cauliflower.
5. Don’t forget to hydrate.
With the rise in popularity of intermittent fasting, we’re learning more and more that the body can go long periods of time without food—and doing so can even be healthy! Water is a different story; your body needs a constant supply to function the way you want it to. So grab your favorite reusable water bottle (glass or stainless steel—of course) and get drinking. Pro tip: Adding a bit of grapefruit, basil, or honeydew can make things way more interesting.
Grounded in the belief we are all unique beings, we begin each new client with a meticulous bio-mechanical evaluation, assessing each joint in its relationship to the movement of the body as a whole. Our therapists are skilled at reading the unique story your body tells, and treating everything from the bottom of your foot to the top of your head.
Bodywise Physical Therapy is located in Portland, Oregon. The Bodywise approach is wholistic, individualized, and can benefit people of all fitness levels. While Bodywise has always specialized in general orthopedics, spine rehabilitation, and sports medicine, they have evolved into a truly wholistic practice integrating Hands-on treatments with Mindfulness, Pilates, Trauma Release Exercise, Womens Health and Lymphedema.
