++ INCREASE UR IMMUNITY ++
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “October”? Maybe you’ll first think about Thanksgiving…. then obviously Halloween, duh…. perhaps even Fall, the change in colour of the leaves etc…. but I bet none of you thought about your IMMUNITY. Why immunity you ask? Well, that’s because October is the beginning of the dreaded cold and flu season. You know, the time of year when we’re all super susceptible to the spread of infection. Yuck.
The cold seasons typically have us spending more time in-doors surrounded by strangers or loved ones and their ‘not-so-lovely’ germs. So it’s for these reasons that October is the perfect month to start thinking about ways to increase your immunity.
Below I discuss three helpful ways you can increase your immunity this Fall, so that we can all focus on sharing new memories with loved ones, instead of accidentally sharing germs and bacteria. Just saying… and yes, you can thank me later! :D
- SUPPLEMENTS -
So what’s the first thing you can do to help increase your immunity? Well, why not start with taking a closer look at all the stuff you feed your body. Let’s face it, most of our diets are not providing us with the micro-nutrients our immune systems require to stay strong. For example, perhaps you don’t like vegetables, or maybe you’re practicing a dairy free or vegan diet. Regardless of your dietary choices, none of us have perfectly balanced diets. Solution? Make it easy and supplement!!! Two great supplements that can help increase your immunity are Genuine Health’s Advanced Gut Health Probiotics and Omega 3’s.
The Advanced Gut Health Probiotic (which is vegan by the way, for all of you vegans out there) contains 15 carefully selected strains of bacteria to help mimic the guts flora. You may be asking what does my gut have to do with my body’s immune system? Well, up to 80% of your immune system’s cells and tissues can be found in your gut - so taking a probiotic can be your best friend during cold season. Omega 3’s, on the other hand, are essential fatty acids that are found in every cell in your body. EPA and DHA (if you’re keen to know what that stands for it’s eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid respectively) are the two important fatty acids contained in Omega 3’s that help make your heart, hair, skin, gut, and joints healthier. As for your immune system, omega-3 fatty acids enhance the functioning of immune cells - specifically your white blood cells known as B cells.
- SLEEP -
Our bodies are highly functioning machines, and in order for them to operate at a high level of performance they need time to reboot and repair. Unfortunately, over the past few decades, the average time of sleep has dropped to less than 7 hours a night for adults. Wow! While sleep needs do vary among individuals, some requiring less and others way more (me!), you should aim for at least 7-8 hours a night. What’s the bottom line? Well, there's a strong link between sleep and a healthy immune system. But not just any sleep, restorative sleep, which means enough sleep to get your body back into fighting shape.
- EXCERCISE -
If you know me, you know I have a love/hate relationship with exercising. But knowing that staying fit and active helps support my immune system is just an added source of motivation to make it a priority. Regular exercise is one of the pillars of healthy living. It improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases. But does it help to boost your immune system naturally and keep it healthy? ABSOLUTELY YES! Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system. Physical activity helps to flush bacteria out of your lungs and airways, which will help to reduce your chances of getting a cold, flu, or other illness. Exercise promotes positive changes to your body’s antibodies and white blood cells (WBC). And it’s our WBCs that make up the body's immune system cells that target and fight off diseases. Finally, exercise also promotes good circulation, which allows the cells of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.
There you have it folks! You’re now equipped with three ways to increase your immunity this fall. Whether it’s supplements, sleep and/or exercise - try to give your body some love and keep it healthy through the colder seasons.