Boosting Your Immune System During Covid-19 and Coming Winter Month

Winter is fast approaching, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It would not hurt to take extra precautions to keep our immune system in top shape, strong enough to fight off coronavirus and the diseases that come along with the winter season like the flu, even as we still make trips. The question now is, how do we boost our immune system?

For the next couple of months, we should do everything we can to remain healthy and safe from the COVID-19, and that includes getting tested. You can visit laboratories to get tested or book an appointment and get a PCR swab test. Meanwhile, let’s talk about ways we can boost our immune system.

What is the immune system?

It would be better to start by explaining what the immune system is and clearing off doubts. The immune system is made up of various cells, proteins and organs. All these make up the immune system, and they are responsible for protecting our bodies from foreign and harmful substances that could make us sick. All the components of the immune system are important, as the absence or failure of one component would make it difficult for us to fight germs and stay healthy.

Because the immune system consists of various organs, and body parts, it cannot be boosted. Instead, it can be strengthened to work more effectively.

Ways of strengthening the immune system

Your immune system needs to be in excellent condition for the coming winter months, here are steps you can take to prevent yourself from falling custom to COVID-19 and the flu.

Regular exercise

Even without hoping to prevent any infection, regular exercise plays a role in keeping us healthy, and not just keeping us in shape. However, you should not engage in strenuous exercise all the time. Exercising for at least 150 minutes weekly or 30 minutes daily is a good option.

Reduce the intake of alcohol

Too much consumption of alcohol for both men and women is not good. For an optimum immune system, you should not have more than 14 units of alcohol weekly, and this is equivalent to seven glasses of wine or six pints of beer.

Eat healthily

Fruits and vegetables also help in maintaining the immune system. Try incorporating these into your diet at all times for a healthier immune system.

Maintain a healthy body weight

A Body Mass Index (BMI) or lower is certainly healthy for everyone, and the best way to get this is through healthy eating and exercising.

Stop smoking

The effects of smoking are detrimental to your immune system. When you stop, however, you give your body and system the chance to recover from these effects. Improvement includes better blood circulation, increase in oxygen level, reduced inflammation and subsequently a better immune system.

Adequate sleep

It is not just something you do once or twice in a while; you should make it a habit of getting adequate sleep daily. This way, your body gets enough time to relax after the long day, and you wake up feeling refreshed.

Reduce stress

Avoid stress altogether if you can, but if you can’t, try reducing it to a minimum. After a long day, you can unwind by meditation, practising mindfulness or even reading.

Intake of supplements

In addition to the changes you make in your lifestyle, behaviour and diet for the strengthening of the immune system, taking of supplements is another way to strengthen your immune system. The supplements that help in strengthening the immune system include the following:

• Vitamin A: vitamin A provides support to the immune system in fighting off diseases and infections, especially the one related to respiration. By increasing your intake of vitamin A, you would be giving your immune system a helping hand in fighting off diseases.
• Vitamin C: vitamin C helps to prevent diseases that are caused by bacteria, virus and other pathogens. When you increase your intake of vitamin C, you are building up your immune system to create a resistance to diseases that are viral, bacterial or more.
• Vitamin D: vitamin D helps in reducing your chances of having a flu or cold. When you increase your intake of vitamin D, you are keeping your immune system strong enough to ward off the common cold or the flu. Additionally, research has shown that deficiency in vitamin D will increase your chances of becoming more ill if you get infected with COVID-19.
• Zinc: zinc also helps in reducing the risk of you having a common cold or other infections. Consuming foods that have a high level of zinc will protect your immune system from common cold and other infections.

Even without being told, we know how important it is to stay healthy at this period, not just to avoid getting infected with COVID-19, but other seasonal diseases as well. By taking the necessary precautions to keep your immune system strong, you are protecting yourself and your loved ones from getting infected with one disease or another.

When you feel sick, however, do not hesitate to contact your health care provider or specialist for appropriate tests.