No one enjoys falling prey to coughs and colds, runny noses and sore throats.
Luckily, in this day and age, we know more about how to support effective immune function than ever before.
If you want to avoid getting sick ever again, here are five ways to supercharge your immunity now.
1. Hydrate throughout the day
While the benefits of intermittent fasting are becoming more and more popular, there are no benefits from limiting your water intake throughout the day. While your body can go hours without food (and often it is good for it), it does require a consistent supply of water for it to function correctly — including your immune system.
This is one of the easiest habits to include in your daily life, simply purchase a reusable water bottle and take it everywhere with you! If you get bored of plain water, simply add a bit of grapefruit, basil, or honeydew to the mix.
2. Get your body moving (regularly)
The benefits of regular exercise are seemingly never-ending, but when it comes to your immune system, it is essential.
Daily exercise boosts the healthy function of your lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels that remove toxins from your body. Additionally, it also assists with blood flow and aids in releasing tension.
Even if you don’t commit to daily exercise (which you should aim for), moderate exercise has been shown to decrease the recurrence of colds. Calmer forms of activity (such as yoga) are helpful for treating the body after illness.
3. Say yes, yes, yes to greens
While it can be easy to skimp on your daily intake of greens, by paying a little more attention to what you put into your body, you can seamlessly fit them all in.
Whether you chose to consume green juice, daily salads with arugula, or a morning ice-cold smoothie with spinach, you need to be getting your greens for your overall health and immune system.
Understandably, juices and salads are more alluring in the warmer months, but in the winter, opt for warm soups filled with kale, broccoli, and cauliflower.
4. Emphasize hygiene
Throughout the year, hygiene should be important, but especially during the winter months when infections spread like wildfire.
Wash your hands before making or eating food, as well as whenever you take public transport. Cellphones, restaurant menus, and door handles are other items where germs are prominent.
Just carry hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it throughout the day!
Additionally, opt to sterilize all your surfaces at home to limit the extent of infection.
Take care to avoid touching your face as this will transport germs from your hands into your body. And pay particular attention to chewing your nails or rubbing your eyes, both of which have a high risk of leading to infection.
5. Utilize supplements
The ailments of aging are numerous and diverse — from your eyesight to your nerves, to your memory (and lots, lots more). Most of the time, it doesn’t feel like one thing is going wrong; it seems like everything collapses at the same time.
One of the ways to battle this aging process is to utilize supplements that provide essential nutrients (like vitamins and minerals) as well as supplements designed for a more targeted response.
Here is an example: Your mitochondria (which generate the energy that cells need to do their work and to fight off stresses) are powered by a molecule called NAD — Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide.
The level of NAD throughout your body is diminished as you age, which in turn means that all your cells stop receiving the energy they need to do their job and to defend against stresses, such as radiation, temperature and toxins.
In other words, when it comes to cellular health, NAD holds two keys:
- The energy to protect against stresses
- The ability to repair any DNA damage that does occur
Currently, using supplements is the most effective and readily available method for replenishing NAD.
One more important thing…
By following these steps, you will be well on your way to supercharging your immunity.
However, the most important thing you can do is to get enough sleep.
Yes, you have heard that before, but it truly is the best way to maintain your health. When your body is sleep-deprived, you will feel under the weather for longer than if you were getting your recommended seven to nine hours each night. You are also more likely to catch something as your immune system is run down.
All in all, this is just another reason to prioritize a good night’s sleep!
AUTHOR BIO
Frank L. Jaksch Jr. is the Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder of ChromaDex. He oversees research, strategy and operations for the Company with a focus on scientific and novel products for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets. Mr. Jaksch earned a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology from Valparaiso University.