Keep Your Gut in Check
Good gut health benefits your entire body including your immunological functioning While people usually associate bacteria as being bad there are actually good bacteria your body needs for its various systems and those bacteria reside in your gut
The bacteria in your gut can become unbalanced and bad bacteria can take over causing you to feel bad and even weakening your immune defenses Include a supplement in your diet that offers probiotics and probiotics to strengthen your gut health Try the Gundry MD Bio Complete 3 coupon code to save on a dietary supplement that also includes postbiotics
Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is restorative and your body requires it for ultimate functioning When you sleep you enable every system in your body to repair itself Your body releases proteins called cytokines and the production of cytokines increases while youre sleeping
These proteins are necessary to your health as they help repair your body when its battling an infection or inflammation If your body is deprived of sleep production of cytokines may be decreased Try getting eight hours of sleep every night especially during flu season
Make Sure Youre Getting Zinc
Zinc is natures gift to your immunological system Zinc can be found in many of the foods you eat including red meats poultry beans nuts whole grains and dairy products Most of your zinc intake should be provided by the food you eat on a daily basis which is one of many reasons good nutrition is also essential
If you suspect youre not getting enough zinc talk to your doctor to see if he or she recommends you also take zinc supplements Getting plenty of zinc is a good thing but you dont want to have too much When in doubt always ask the doctor
Exercise Regularly
Exercise doesnt just strengthen your muscles and improve your mood It also strengthens your immune responses to a certain degree When you exercise you are also exercising your lungs As they pump air in and out they may also flush foreign germs and bacteria from your airways that has collected in the last 24 hours
White blood cells which are an important part of your bodys immune defense system also circulate faster throughout your body when you get your blood pumping As long as you dont overdo it there are numerous benefits to exercising Try getting at lease 20 minutes of cardio exercise each day This can include something as easy as a daily walk
Wash Your Hands Often
Washing your hands frequently is proven to help ward off illness If youre going to be out shopping and dont have access to hand washing its easy to keep a tube of anti bacterial lotion in your back pocket or purse Use it often especially after touching door handles and other surfaces people touch with frequency
Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated is good for your body at any time but you should be particularly cognizant of your fluid intake during flu season One study showed that staying hydrated may actually boost a persons immune response to viruses and bacteria
Waters part in fighting off illness may have to do with it flushing toxins from your system It also helps transport oxygen to your body cells Depending on the temperature outside and your level of activity you should drink at least six full glasses of water a day
Dont Overexert Yourself
Exercise is good but not when you cause your body to respond to it like trauma When you overexert yourself and dont allow your body and mind time to heal then your immunity becomes low
While its okay to be physically active dont push your body to the point that it suffers long after the activity is completed Your body will require more rest and during that time youll be more susceptible to illness as your system is already busy working to repair the damage from the overexertion
Avoid Others Who are Sick
During flu season you should avoid close contact with everyone who resides outside your home since you never know who is sick and they may not even know themselves If you do know someone is sick stay away from them until they are well
Germs are everywhere even in your own home Get in the habit of not touching your face and eyes as these are the most common entry points for germs While it may seem like overkill if you really want to avoid getting sick then wear a mask when youre going to be in large crowds
Get a Flu Vaccine
The easiest and most successful avenue for avoiding catching the flu is to get vaccinated The flu virus changes every year so its important to get the most up to date vaccine which usually comes out in early fall of every year While many people are against vaccinations your risks of becoming seriously ill are much greater without a vaccine than with it
Even if you do get the vaccine you should still consider yourself at risk Continue to practice good hygiene and everything else that has been suggested to stay healthy and well
Spray Down Surfaces
Whether youre in your work place or at home viruses can remain on surfaces for hours and sometimes even days if the environment is right Taking time to wipe down these surfaces can keep you your co workers and your family safe during the flu and cold season Common germ areas include countertops light switches door knobs phones and computers
Theres a lot to remember for staying well during flu season but all of these habits should become a part of your daily routine no matter what season it is Being healthy during any time of year is vital to your longevity and quality of life The sooner you start making your health a daily part of your life the sooner youll develop good habits and wont have to work to remember what you need to do to avoid becoming sick
Can NOT Sleeping Make You Sick
Yes lack of sleep can affect your immune system Studies show that people who dont get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus such as a common cold virus Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick
During sleep your immune system releases proteins called cytokines some of which help promote sleep Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or
inflammation or when youre under stressSleep deprivation may decrease production of these protective cytokines In addition infection fighting antibodies and cells are reduced during periods when you dont get enough sleep
So your body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases Long term lack of sleep also increases your risk of obesity diabetes and heart and blood vessel cardiovascular disease
How much sleep do you need to bolster your immune system The optimal amount of sleep for most adults is seven to eight hours of good sleep each night Teenagers need nine to 10 hours of sleep School aged children may need 10 or more hours of sleep
But more sleep isnt always better For adults sleeping more than nine to 10 hours a night may result in a poor quality of sleep such as difficulty falling or staying asleep
Alaska Sleep Clinic is ready to help you improve your sleep and your life Call us this week to speak with one of our board certified sleep specialists
