The pandemic has underlined the need of boosting immunity and shown the risks of an unhealthy lifestyle. Now, after two years, Monkeypox strikes and threatens us! This makes boosting immunity one of our top priorities, if not the most essential, and the most valuable lesson is that there is no shortcut to boost your immunity and that you need to change your daily habits and begin living a healthy life.
Can habits weaken my immunity?
Actually, yes, the things you do regularly become habits that you do automatically and unconsciously after a while, so the first step to changing a habit or behavior is to consciously analyze and know your daily habits, followed by defining what you want to change.
Bad habits that can weaken my immunity
- Lack of sleep
- Exposure to pollution
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Poor diet and malnutrition also weight gain and obesity both have a negative effect
- Stress and tension
Habits that help boost your immunity
Immunity is important since it is the first line of defence, and the first step to strengthen your immunity is to live a healthy lifestyle and build good habits such as:
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting enough sleep
- Taking the necessary steps to avoid infection such as washing hands regularly and cooking meat thoroughly
- Managing stress
- Quit smoking
- Drinking more milk and eat dairy products such as cheese and yogurt
Nutrients that help boost your immunity
It is critical to eat a well-balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of various nutrients essential for a healthy body, including immune cells. However, certain nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein, may promote your physical health and boost your immunity.
It is also important to take probiotics to promote “good” bacteria. Foods containing probiotics include yogurt, kombucha tea, and some supplements such as Provita Probiotic.
Vitamin C
Helps reduce the incidence of pneumonia. Learn more about Vitamin C
Vitamin D
- Vitamin D is a significant immune function regulator that aids in the prevention of severe respiratory infections. And a deficiency increases the susceptibility to infections.
- Vitamin D-rich foods include red meat, liver, egg yolk, and fatty fish such as salmon and sardines. Sunlight and nutrition cannot provide our body with adequate vitamin D. However, you can take a vitamin D supplement like Provita Vitamin D.
Zinc
Zinc is also vital for immune function, and a lack of it leads to weakened immunity and a rise in the incidence of infectious illnesses.