How to Absolutely Boost Immunity Fast: 5 Sure-Fire Ways
This seems to be the question on everyone's lips these days. I'm sure even you've been guilty of Googling 'How to Boost Immunity Fast' at least once in the last year. I know I have. It's been a trending topic, a common discussion over dinner and all anyone seems to talk about. So we decided to list out the best ways you can give your immune system a boost and put the subject to rest once and for all.
5 ways to boost immunity fast
Below are the 5 best ways anyone can give their immune system a shot in the arm (excuse the pun).
Immunity through Superfoods
Oxygen Therapy
Yoga
Supplements
Lifestyle changes
Before covering them in more detail, let’s first address the elephant in the room.
Can you boost immunity fast? Or is it a myth?
Answering these questions with a Yes or No would be simplifying the truth. And the truth is there are no conclusive studies to say that doing X or Y boosts your immune system. The reason is, it is a system and not an organ. To function well requires many different factors to be in harmony with each other.
Researchers are still studying the immune system's response to various effects such as age, lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress and much more.
According to them, by adopting the healthy lifestyle strategies mentioned in this article, your immune system will definitely have the upper hand fighting off any invading germs trying to make you sick.
But you will need to do a combination of them to make a difference.
So let's talk more about each one.
Immunity through Superfoods
Believe it or not, if you are looking to lessen the number of infections your body will battle this year. You don't need to visit your family doctor, but your local grocer instead.
Ensuring your body is well-fed on the foods mentioned below is the first step towards bolstering your immunity.
Citrus fruits
The superfoods of summer! Bright, colourful, sour and sweet. All of them brimming to the rind with Vitamin C.
Vitamin C increases white blood cells' production in your body, your first line of defence against infection.
Oranges, grapefruit, lemons & lime are all great sources of Vitamin C. So the next time you prepare a meal, don't forget to add them in.
Broccoli
The greener cousin of the cauliflower, the humble broccoli is the king of the cruciferous vegetables. Each of its florets is packed with Vitamin C, A, E and a bunch of antioxidants and minerals.
But, remember with this particular vegetable, less preparation equals more benefits. So the next time you are feeling peckish, steam some broccoli and your immune system will sing your praises.
Spinach
As green as broccoli and rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Spinach does have the added benefit of being a good source of beta carotene, a key weapon in your immune system's arsenal to stave off pesky diseases.
Like broccoli, the trick is to cook spinach as little as possible. A little steaming goes a long way in ensuring all its nutrients reach your body intact.
Greek Yoghurt
A much thicker and stronger flavoured variant of the Indian Dahi. Greek yoghurt is chock full of helpful probiotic bacteria that line your stomach and gut, making them more resilient to infections.
It is also a great source of Vitamin D that helps regulate the immune systems' functions.
But all yoghurt is not made equal, don't substitute greek yoghurt for the fruit flavoured varieties. They are desserts filled with sugar and will cause more harm than good.
Garlic and Ginger
Both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine stand testament to the powerful immunity-boosting effects of these two ingredients.
Certain studies have shown garlic to help slow down the hardening of arteries, but it's the immunity-boosting properties of compounds like allicin found within it that make it a favourite on this list.
If you have ever had sniffles, a sore throat or inflammation, you will be no stranger to ginger. It is also known to curb feelings of nausea. Like garlic, some of our earliest civilisations have used ginger to increase immunity in people.
Turmeric
A spice that is no stranger to the Indian diet. Turmeric has always been a key ingredient in many of our curries because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Science has shown us that the strong concentration of curcumin in Turmeric makes it such a good immune-booster and antiviral. It is curcumin that gives it its distinctive bright yellow colour.
The key to using these superfoods to boost immunity fast is eating all of them in proportion. Remember, variety is the spice of life.
Oxygen Therapy
From your very first breath when you come into this world to when you breathe your last, it's clear that the air you breathe is vital to your survival.
Unfortunately, the pollution from traffic, heavy metal toxicity from industries and cigarettes and second-hand smoke have compromised the quality of the air you breathe, making your immune system more open to attack.
This is why oxygen therapy helps give us the oxygen we need to function well in life.
Oxygen therapy uses Oxygen Concentrators to remove nitrogen from the air and deliver pure oxygen to you via an oxygen mask or nasal tubes.
Thirty minutes of oxygen therapy can help boost your immune system, improve mental clarity, help speed up the healing of wounds and reduce stress levels.
The reason oxygen therapy works so well is many viruses and bacteria are anaerobic and cannot survive in oxygenated blood. Thereby boosting the immune system.
Yoga and immunity
Once only taught by Yogis in the Indian subcontinent, Yoga has now taken the world by storm. All you need to start doing Yoga is a quiet spot in your house, a yoga mat and access to someone well-versed in the many forms that help keep your body fit.
Many people don't know that certain yoga poses do much more than relieving stress and promote wellness. Yoga has the ability to get rid of toxins in your body, cut down inflammation in your cells and boost your immune system.
Supplements
Another great way to boost immunity fast is by taking supplements. As the name suggests, supplements add important vitamins and minerals to your diet to bolster your daily food's nutritional value.
Unlike the other suggestions on this list, we suggest you check with your physician before adding any supplements to your diet.
A few common supplements are Vitamin C & D, B12, Zinc, Magnesium, Potassium, and Iron.
Healthy Lifestyle
Outside of all the immunity-boosting tips, we have shared till now. Below is a list of lifestyle changes that will improve your quality of life and keep the immune system strong and healthy.
Quit smoking.
Lose weight.
Exercise regularly.
Drink alcohol responsibly.
Get sufficient sleep.
Meditate.
Try and reduce stress-inducing people and situations in your life.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to boost immunity fast. But for any of these suggestions to leave a lasting impact and better your immune response to diseases, you need to use them together. The more you adopt these healthy habits, the better your chances of building up your body's natural defences against germs, viruses and bacteria.
That said these are preventive measures and not actual treatments which you still must take when falling ill. Also, there are no guarantees that you won't fall sick again in your life by doing everything mentioned here.
What is probable is that you will fall sick less, recover quicker and be less dependent on medications, which is a great first step towards a healthier lifestyle. Wouldn't you agree?
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