Everything we consume contributes to our body’s immunity, which, in turn, determines our capability to fight or resist certain detrimental microorganisms and diseases. So, when we experience a deficiency, we generally turn to immunity boosting supplements. But it’s not always the right choice for everyone.
Although there are several pieces of research that speak in favor of supplements, as a consumer, you must understand that not every supplement can create a protective shield around your organs and save your bodily systems from perpetual dangers. So, what’s the best possible way of boosting your immune system?
Whenever you need answers to biological questions like this one, always go back to nature. Our planet’s blessed with resources that can gradually help you develop immunity against various bad bacteria. It’s just a matter of finding the right resources that suit your needs.
Below are some natural remedies that have the power to boost your immune system:
- Grapeseed Oil
Vitamin E has been hailed as the sole savior of the immune system. Countless studies have revealed that it can improve the body’s response to complex illnesses caused by the weakening of the immune system. Since grapeseed is a rich source of vitamin E, grapeseed oil is recognized as an underutilized natural remedy for building a better immune system.
- Vitamin C & D
It can’t be stressed enough that vitamin C is probably the most important mineral your body needs. But since your body can’t produce it internally, you need to offer it externally. Citrus foods such as lemon, oranges, and lime are the most easily accessible source of vitamin C. Besides, you can also source the Australian native superfood, Kakadu plums, to boost your immunity.
Vitamin D is yet another natural remedy for boosting the immune system. An hour in the morning sun can rid you of countless health issues including frequently falling sick. Besides, salmon, tuna, mushrooms, and eggs are some of the other rich sources of vitamin D.
- Turmeric
The Ayurvedic superfood, turmeric, is yet to take the western side of the world by a storm. But it’s already popular as a surefire natural remedy for building immunity in the South Asian part of the world. A teaspoon of turmeric every day can increase your body’s immunomodulating capacity and significantly boost your immunity.
- Grapefruit Seed Extract
A powerful antioxidant, grapefruit seed extract can combat infections and protect against cell damage. It’s a great way to offer your body anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
The market is already swarming with countless immunity-boosting supplements that contain grapefruit seed extract. Instead of squandering a fortune on them, consider directly incorporating pure grapefruit seed extract in your diet.
- Elderberry Extract
Elderberry extract may not be the most conventional natural remedy for boosting immunity, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less effective. It helps manage stress and prevent heart diseases, which are notorious for being two of the most common results of a weak immune system.
- Clove Essential Oil
A go-to remedy for cough and cold – common signs of poor immunity – clove essential oil can improve the immune system. It increases the white blood cells and reduces the body’s hypersensitivity through its anti-inflammatory properties.
Clove essential oil is also known for its high antioxidant capacity that proves to be effective when boosting the immunity.
- Licorice Root
Licorice root contains a bioactive component called glycyrrhizin, which is known to support the immune system. It can also help combat infections and viral replication by curbing the activities of various viruses within the body. Being a potent antioxidant, it offers antimicrobial effects, which cease the growth of disease-inducing microorganisms.
Things that can weaken the immune system and how to deal with them:
- Improper Diet
Your eating habits dictate the quality of your life. Junk food may be easily accessible to you but it’s probably the worst thing you can do for your immune system. The western diet traditionally contains high sugar content. And if there’s one thing that you know about sugar it’s that it ages you. Literally! The more sugar you consume, the faster you start showing signs of aging, which includes prominent wrinkles. If that’s not enough, it actually takes away your ability to fight viruses and remain healthy, something that happens as you grow older.
Now, it’s true that the human body is a complex set of systems. You have little control over several factors that affect your well-being. However, your dietary habits aren’t dictated by your genes. You have complete control over what you consume. So, incorporating a bowl of fresh fruits and adding a bunch of veggies to your diet isn’t some sort of short-lived fads. You need them as natural remedies to develop immunity against deadly viruses and bacteria.
- Poor Sleep Routine
People underestimate the power of good sleep. Try sleeping uninterrupted for 7 hours straight and you’ll notice immediate changes within your body, including healthy weight loss, better skin, and even a reduced risk of heart diseases. On the other hand, when you sleep late, you deprive your body of the detox process. Your body detoxes between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. However, your brain needs to relax a.k.a. you need to be asleep for your organs to begin the detoxification process and release cytokines – immunity building proteins. With time, you never really completely detox and continue harboring the toxins within your body. And it shows not only on the outside but also the inside.
Now, the simple reason why most people can’t fall asleep when they hit the bed is that it’s difficult for your brain to transition into a different state because you’ve been awake for so long. So, if you want to fall asleep, you need to pace yourself. Instead of hitting the bed immediately after watching TV, prepare your brain to relax. Start by turning off your screens half an hour before bedtime. (That includes your phone, too). Then, you can either go lie down on the bed or read a book. Not an e-book but a physical book. This way, you’ll continue sending signals to the brain to convey that you’re ready to fall asleep. Simply try this for a week and we bet that you’ll never want to go back.
Note: Avoid sleeping for more than 7 hours as it will make you feel more lethargic throughout the day and make it difficult for you to fall asleep the following night.
- Stress
Stress contributes to more than 60% of all human illnesses. It’s such a threat to your body that the American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes it as the #1 proxy killer in the world. So, it isn’t an exaggeration to say that stress can, directly and indirectly, contribute to poor health. Stress is so harmful to your body that even 30 minutes of stress can compromise your immune system’s ability to fight germs and viruses. If you constantly remain in the fight or flight mode, your brain utilizes more energy in keeping your survival instincts active and you become vulnerable to countless diseases. The most common proof of this is, overworking leading to frequently falling sick. The more stressful your work environment is, the more cortisol you release and the more sick days you end up taking.
Since cortisol disturbs your immune system, it becomes important to combat stress using natural remedies. And CBD is known to be one of the most effective ones. CBD is considered as a promising alternative to anxiety and stress management therapy. CBD products can help deal with generalized anxiety disorders and even reduce the level of stress experienced by individuals. By interacting with your CB1 and CB2 cell receptors in the Endocannabinoid system, CBD products assist the brain in releasing serotonin – a chemical and neurotransmitter that functions as a natural mood stabilizer in the brain. CBD oils, pills, tinctures, creams, and salves help alleviate stress in your brain, so it can work towards the development of your immune system’s ability to fight against life-threatening diseases.
Remember, there’s no one way to build immunity. All you can do is alter your habits to improve the quality of your life.
