Immune System Health Tips

Hygiene

Probably the most important thing you can do to protect your immune system is to wash your hands well and often. Check out how to in this video from the BBC for correct hand washing habits. Here’s another BBC video instructing how to clean your smartphone safely.

Exercise

To proactively support your immune system, one of the best things you can do is to keep moving and exercise. A brisk walk or any other type of cardio activity, including practicing yoga sun salutations, promotes good circulation, which helps pump lymph through your body so it can rid the body of toxins more effectively.

Rest

If you’re already feeling unwell, stay at home and rest! Not only will you protect others from catching your cold or flu, your own immune system will also recover much faster if it’s given a chance to rest in a relaxing home environment.

Getting enough sleep is also an important support to the immune system as a tired body is more susceptible to bugs and infections.

Reduce Stress

Yoga Sun Salutations

Stress has an incredibly negative impact on the immune system. Which means that constantly worrying about whether or not you will catch a virus could actually make you prone to catching one! Better instead to keep calm and carry on while taking appropriate and sensible precautions given the current severity of the outbreak.

Yoga can also help reduce stress. Restorative yoga poses and pranayama breathing exercises both promote deep relaxation and lower stress levels, allowing the entire organism to fully rest and repair.

To read more check out, “The Psychology of Uncertainty: How to Cope With COVID-19 Anxiety,” by Bryan Robinson at Forbes Magazine. He writes:

Your mindset during this crisis is everything. Your perspective is the most powerful thing you can control in a situation that is beyond your control. Yes, these disruptions are scary, but fear, panic and worry are not preparation.

Hydration

Staying hydrated helps your body naturally eliminate toxins and other bacteria that may cause illness and is highly beneficial for health in general.

Nutrition

Eat plenty of whole foods and fresh vegetables. Foods that actively support the immune system include: garlic, citrus fruit, almonds, mushrooms, onions, carrots, turmeric and ginger. Fiber also supports a healthy immune system by feeding our microbiome, the helpful bugs that live symbiotically throughout our body and that produce their very own antimicrobial chemicals.

You might also consider taking immune supporting supplemental vitamins and antioxidants such as zinc or vitamins C and D.

Healing Tea

Try some turmeric, ginger and lemon tea – each of the ingredients may have healing effects which positively impact the immune system.

♥ Click here for two Immune Boosting Sequences from BKS Iyengar

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