sign that says BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM next to sliced orange and white lab coat with stethoscope

7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

October 28, 2024

Your immune system protects you from viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that can cause illness. If you want to avoid getting sick, you can help your body fight off illness by boosting your immune health. There are certain lifestyle changes, dietary supplements, and other things that can help strengthen your body’s immune response so you can stay healthy. Here are some of the best ways to boost your immune system:

1. Eat Immunity-Boosting Foods

Eating immunity-boosting foods like fruits and vegetables every day can help strengthen your body’s ability to fight infection. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals that support immune health, such as vitamin C and other antioxidants. To ensure you’re getting the nutrients your immune system needs, add citrus fruits, berries, colorful vegetables, and leafy greens to your diet. You should also include fiber-rich whole grains, healthy fats, probiotic-rich foods, and lean proteins to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

2. Stay Hydrated

smiling woman drinking water from glass

Water plays many important roles in the body, and one of its vital roles is supporting immune function. If you want to boost your immune system, try drinking more water to stay hydrated throughout the day. Water allows blood and lymph to circulate throughout the body, and this is necessary for immune cells to detect and defend against invaders. Because you are constantly losing water through waste, breath, and sweat, it’s essential to drink enough water to replace this loss.

3. Get Quality Sleep

One of the best ways to boost your immune system is to ensure you’re getting plenty of sleep. Most adults require 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night. Without sleep, your immune system won’t be able to effectively fight illnesses. While you sleep, your body works on restoring its natural defenses and producing cytokines, which are proteins that strengthen your immune response. Studies show that sleep deprivation can reduce immune cell activity, and people who regularly lack sleep are more susceptible to catching colds and other respiratory infections. If you need help getting restful sleep, you can try taking Village Sleep Support to promote healthy sleep patterns and immune activity.

4. Exercise Regularly

two people jogging outside

A great way to boost your immune system is to exercise regularly. Moderately intense physical activity increases the circulation of immune cells in your blood and mobilizes them into your tissues. This improves immune surveillance so your immune system can more easily detect and react to infection. Aim to do 30 to 60 minutes of moderate exercise several days per week to benefit your immune health. Keep in mind, however, that more isn’t always better – long sessions of intense exercise such as running a marathon can actually weaken your immune system.

5. Manage Stress

Chronic stress can negatively affect many areas of your health, including your immune health. Stress can cause a decrease in the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting off infection. It can also cause sleep loss, and a lack of sleep can impair immune function. This is why one way to boost your immune system is to minimize the amount of stress you experience. It’s important to find healthy ways to manage stress through stress management activities such as deep breathing, massage, dancing, and creative activities.

6. Get Vaccinated

holding cotton ball on arm after giving immunization shot

One of the most effective ways to boost your immune system is to stay up to date on all recommended immunizations. Immunizations expose your immune system to a safe version of a disease so it can learn to recognize and react to it. This allows your immune system to more quickly react if it comes into contact with these pathogens before they can cause harm. Here at Village Discount Drugs, we make it easy and convenient to get vaccinated with a variety of immunizations, such as flu, Tdap, shingles, hepatitis A and B, and travel vaccines.

7. Take Immunity-Boosting Supplements

Certain dietary supplements can help boost your immune system by providing it with the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Some of the best immunity-boosting supplements include vitamins A, C, and D3 as well as quercetin, zinc, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Village Immune Support is a comprehensive supplement that contains a blend of these nutrients to support healthy immune function and respiratory health.

These are some of the best ways to boost your immune system so you can stay healthy and avoid getting sick. If you do get sick, don’t worry! There are some things you can do to minimize unpleasant symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, and cough. Check out these remedies for cold and flu symptoms so you can get back to feeling your best!

Related Blog Posts

MENOPAUSE written on heart-shaped note paper
November 4, 2024
What You Need to Know About Menopause
smiling, healthy woman taking a multivitamin with a glass of water
June 21, 2024
5 Reasons to Take a Multivitamin Every Day
e10b95_86f5034e16a34152951509b22a81c862~mv2[1]
June 30, 2022
Sunburns and Poison Plants and Bugs – OH MY! Tips to Enjoy Summer Safely
Stethoscope and a syringe on a diabetes test
October 12, 2023
The Early Signs of Diabetes