Prepare Your Body For Winter

​Restrictions have eased and Autumn is just around the corner, so now is a good time to think about how to boost your immune system and fight off disease.  Your body takes time to adjust to new routines, so you do have to think ahead.
 
Your immune system does a very efficient job of defending you against disease-causing micro-organisms, but it’s not fool-proof.  So can you boost your immune system?  And if so, how.
 
Your immune system is not a single entity, it’s a system with different elements which have different functions.  And to function well, it requires harmony and balance but currently there is no scientifically proven direct link between lifestyle and enhanced immune function.  And what does boosting the immune system actually mean?  Having more immune cells is not necessarily better, but a more robust immune system might be useful.  So how might you achieve a more robust immune system?
 
A healthy lifestyle makes sense as a way to support immune function because every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy lifestyle strategies such as:

1. Don’t smoke and avoid aerosols that may aggravate sinus and lung function
2. Don’t drink, or only drink in moderation – the liver takes 72 hours to process alcohol, so even drinking a couple of days a week can compromise your well-being for a disproportionate amount of time.
3. Get outside –daylight will help to trigger Vitamin D in the body and fresh air will improve your feeling of well-being should help to reduce stress.
4. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables to ensure you get many of the immune supporting vitamins and micronutrients and aim for a colourful diet and try to limit your consumption of “beige” foods (porridge is my exception to this).  A healthy diet supports a healthy gut which is an important support to a robust immune system.  The type of micronutrient deficiencies which might be present are zine, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, Vitamin A, B6, C and E.  This deficiency becomes even more likely as we age, since we are likely to eat less and eat a more restricted variety of food.  Supplements can provide some of these micronutrient deficiencies, but there’s no guarantee your body will absorb a supplement – much better to rebalance any deficiencies through a more varied diet
5. Drink plenty of water – water helps to ensure the body cells work efficiently, including those cells supporting immune response.  And if you’re not convinced, just look at how quickly plants wilt if they are deprived of water.  If you’re guilty of not drinking enough water and find that when you do increase your water intake it runs right through you – you may be more like a plant than you think.  Have you ever tried to water a dried out plant?  The water just runs right through and it takes several soakings before the water is absorbed.
6. Get adequate sleep – quality of sleep is as important as quantity, so get into some good sleep hygiene routines: go to bed and wake up at the same time; keep your bedroom dark, quiet and at a comfortable temperature; give yourself 1 – 1.5hrs to wind down before sleep by doing something restful and relaxing; if you’re awake for 20-30 minutes after you go to bed, get up and do something relaxing (not reading or TV) until you feel tired again.
7. Exercise regularly (and moderately).  Exercise improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and can support a healthy immune system.  Exercise promotes good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.
8. Try to minimise stress – the most important stress to manage is the chronic stress which can be caused by strained relationships, work-related issues, etc.
9. Support your elimination system and boost circulation with dry body brushing.
10. Go for a reflexology session.  Reflexology is relaxing, helps to boost circulation and is designed to bring your body back into harmony and balance - perfect if you want to support your immune system.  Clients report feeling relaxed and sleeping well after a session.

---