Lifestyle

15 Easy Changes In Lifestyle That Boost Your Immune System Naturally

9. Laugh, a lot! Laughter is the best medicine. This may sound rather airy-fairy and when you are sick you would probably feel a whole lot… Simi - May 6, 2018

9. Laugh, a lot!

Laughter is the best medicine. This may sound rather airy-fairy and when you are sick you would probably feel a whole lot better after a few dozen Panados as opposed to a 30-minute laughing session. Laughing may not be a prescribed medicine, but it is a very viable treatment option.

It has already been mentioned that a person who is stressed hyper secretes Cortisol, which can wreak havoc on the immune system. Laughing, on the other hand, has positive effects on the immune system. First and foremost, a good chuckle boosts a person’s mood. It relieves stress and muscle tension and elevates one’s mood. These are all things which strengthen the immune system, therefore amping up the body’s natural defenses to infection. This is a secondary effect of laughing, but there are actual palpable effects of laughing on immunity.

A single dose of laughter can increase the number of circulating antibodies and T cells. This increase has been observed in the blood and mucous which is found in both the nose and the respiratory passages. These areas are relatively open to the outside world. This means that a healthy and thriving mucous should impair the passage of germs into the body.

Participating in laughing therapy or frequenting a comedy night will also aid in digestion, increase circulation and lower a person’s blood pressure. A relaxed and happy bodily environment is the perfect environment for an immune system to thrive in. A person can get their daily dose of laughter by watching a funny movie, spending time with a particularly hilarious work colleague, or even just forcing a laugh in the car on the way to work. Forcefully laughing may seem odd at first, but there are studies that have proved that if you force yourself to laugh, your body will respond by actually laughing.

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10. Look on the bright side

The law of attraction is quite simple. Think good thoughts and good things will come to you. Self-proclaimed realists would possibly disagree with this. There are people out there who believe life is unfair. That you get dealt a hand by life and you either have nothing to do with it or possibly you are paying for karma you incurred in a different life. Science may attempt to find the answers and declare the right party once and for all, but even science can be subjective.

A wise man once said that if you are looking for a specific result, you probably going to find it. Who then is the average person meant to trust? At the end of the day, one can only look at the facts at hand and try to make as informed a decision as possible. We know that mood can play a very big role in the functioning of one’s immune system. Is it not then a natural progression to think that positive thoughts too can strengthen immunity? They actually can.

Having a positive outlook on life can influence the function of immune-producing cells. This is a very real and quantifiable effect of positive thinking. On the other hand, if one were to dwell on bad thoughts, there is that spike in Cortisol levels that we have spoken about.

Positive thinking is also a mood booster. A happy mind is a healthy mind. There are elements to this that rely on the placebo effect. Think you are better and you will feel better. Does it matter though? Whether it is medicine or the power of thought which makes one feel healthier and happier. If the result is still the same, then you might as well opt for the cheaper and less invasive procedure.

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11. Alcohol should be a treat and not the norm

You’ve had a long week and cannot wait to pick back on the couch with a glass or maybe even a bottle of wine. It is a blazingly hot summer day and you cannot think of anything better than a cold beer next to the pool. How can you not celebrate that new promotion with a glass of champagne or single-malt whiskey? These are perfectly acceptable. Getting outrageously drunk a few times a week is not.

Alcohol is a social lubricant. Unlike smoking, there are tons of social drinkers out there. Where then is the line between a social drinker and the ‘my kidneys are failing’ drinker? Alcohol is technically a type of fermented sugar. The process itself is natural and occurs, to some degree, in nature. While it may be natural, it is still toxic. The detrimental effects of alcohol abuse are extensive.

The first target is the liver. The liver is the toxin disposal crew in the body. It takes alcohol and other drugs and literally detoxifies them, as best it can. Over time and with excessive alcohol consumption, these liver cells get damaged, permanently. Other victims of ethanol are the brain, the heart, the lungs, the bones, an unborn fetus, and even the muscles.

There are certain studies which claim that mild smoking and alcohol consumption may actually make the body more robust. The validity of this is unclear, but no one is prohibiting drinking altogether. Drinking must simply be done in moderation. If you are having frequent acne breakouts, back pain near the kidneys, poor memory or even multiple alcohol-induced blackouts then it may be time to slow down. Moderation is key with alcohol.

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12. There is literally no upside to smoking or second-hand smoke

Smoking is cool. That is what we are all made to believe at some point or other in our lives and yet it is possibly one of the most dangerous lies around. Smoking is not cool, it is not healthy. In fact, it is downright lethal. Upwards of 16 million American people are currently battling some disease that is directly caused by smoking.

Globally, smoking results in 6 million deaths per year and smokers die at least 10 years earlier than non-smokers. With statistics like these, it is shockingly surprising that so many people still smoke. Who is to blame here? The industry, the education system or is it simply a case of addiction?

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. Medical researchers are racing the clock for a cure for cancer, and while they may be getting close, lung cancer is still absolutely devastating. One of the biggest problems with lung cancer is that early detection is incredibly difficult. Many people with lung cancer are wholly asymptomatic and only start displaying symptoms once the cancer has metastasized or reached an incurable stage. This is obviously a worst-case scenario regarding smoking, and yet it is the leading cancer killer of both women and men. Making it not only a real but prominent concern.

Smoking stains your teeth, harms your gums, ages your skin, increases cataract risk, increases the risk of heart disease, can reduce fertility in men, decreases immune function and impairs respiratory function. Smoking cigarettes impact almost every part of the body. Yes, it is incredibly hard to quit, but consider the facts here. It is clearly the healthiest possible thing anyone could do.

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13. Make sure you get enough sleep

I’ll sleep when I’m dead. No, no you will not. Not sleeping may kill you. A person can survive for 3 weeks without food. A notable case of this was Mahatma Gandhi who went 21 days without food. On the other hand, a person can only go 11 days without sleep. Going by only these two values, one could arguably say that sleep may even be more important the food. A human being cannot live without either, so it would be a completely useless argument. The bottom line should just be that everyone needs to be getting enough sleep, and that is it. No ifs and or buts.

Modern life is busy, and it is very stressful. Scores of people crash-land into bed, exhausted and yet cannot fall asleep due to a raging mind. This not being able to fall asleep should not stop a person from falling asleep. Maybe a person can try meditating for a few minutes or practice breathing techniques or even just drink a glass of warm work. The list of sleep-aiding food and activities are endless.

A person who does not get enough sleep is cranky and almost intolerable, but they are also damaging their body. Continued sleep deprivation increases the risk of depression, obesity and impairs one’s immune system. It is during the REM cycle where memories are consolidated and the body slows down and heals. It is during this period where one rest, where they reset and recharge.

Every single adult on this planet needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. This is non-negotiable. The effect of a single late night will make itself abundantly known very quickly, the prolonged effects could be quite devastating.

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14. Use more fresh herbs when cooking

Smoking may be the leading serial killer, but fast food and pre-packaged food is coming in close on its heels. We do not cook like we used to. We may have better and more abundant ingredients and more advanced equipment, but we just don’t cook like we used to. We do not have time to. Tons of people leave the house before the sun come up and arrive home long after it has gone down. Where in this mad rat race that we call being a grown-up, can someone possibly find time to cook a wholesome meal? Considering this, fast food chains and repackaged food are kings. These are not rulers which should be worshipped. In fact, these rulers should be dethroned and banished!

These store-bought foods are highly processed, pumped with chemicals, and have a staggering number of calories. Obesity is rising at a startling rate in America and it is largely due to these foods. The health impacts are terrifying, and the associated environmental impacts of these chains are positively disgusting. Homemade is always better.

The key to health and homemade food is planning and ingredients. Many delicious and nutritious meals can be made on the weekend and then frozen for later. Making these foods by hand will instantly boost one’s health and immune system, but there is a way to supercharge it.

Herbs and spices add natural flavoring to food. A meal is incomplete without them. There are some herbs though, which ought to be used in vast amounts. These are garlic, ginger, rosemary, oregano, and turmeric. All of which boost the immune system and make a dish pop.

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15. Replace at least one cup of coffee with green tea

Not many people can get through the morning without their regular cup of joe. Assuming that this cup of coffee is not loaded with sugar and cream, then there is actually nothing wrong with this. Recently, it has been shown that coffee can be quite healthy. It can apparently promote circulation and cardiac health. On top of that, it gives you a much-needed kick in the behind. Coffee in the morning is great, coffee in the morning is sacred. This need not change. But, green tea is arguably just as good.

Green tea has been enjoyed for centuries in India and China, for both its taste and medicinal benefits. Being the least processed of the teas, it is loaded with antioxidants. These fight the formation and action of free radicals. Free radicals are essentially the things that age a person. They attack the membranes of the cell. This is a natural process, but it sure doesn’t hurt to slow it down.

This is only the beginning when it comes to the benefits of green tea. It can help prevent cancer, decrease the prevalence of heart disease, lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of a stroke, aid in weight loss and decrease inflammation.

These little green leaves are not simply a beverage, they are a veritable medicinal cocktail. Added to this list of health benefits is the caffeine content of green tea. An 8-ounce cup of green tea has about 35mg of caffeine. This value is obviously much lower than coffee but is it an acceptably large dose. Start the day with a cup of coffee and consider ending it with a cup of green tea.

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