To know how to strengthen your immune system, you must first understand what your immune system is and how important it is. Basically, the immune system is a protector of your body. It protects your body from “external invaders” such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins, and helps the body fight against infections and other diseases. It includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymphatic system.
If we view this from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) aspect, to improve and strengthen our immunity is equivalent to improving the flow of Qi energy within our body and making sure that our body is balanced.
In this post, we will discuss the ways to strengthen your immune system.
Get Sufficient Sleep
A good night’s sleep is especially important for your health. Lack of sleep may cause increased heatiness within the body, thereby resulting in ulcers, throat irritation and more. Most adults require between seven to nine hours of sleep every night, while children may need more hours of sleep. According to the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body’s prime resting time is from 11pm onwards as this timing corresponds to the time of the gallbladder. It is believed that all organs recharge their energies together with the gallbladder, hence sleeping by 11pm will make sure that we get the most benefits from our sleep.
Try TCM Treatments
One of the ways to improve immunity is to first strengthen the body proactively. To do that, one may engage in acupressure, acupuncture or TCM Tuina Treatment. This treatment involves pressing on certain points on the body to unblock and stimulate Qi energy and blood flow to the organs. Once the Qi energy is flowing smoothly within the body, blood circulation will be improved, and toxins will be removed effectively. This in turn promotes balance and boosts your immune system.
Exercise Regularly
Keeping an active lifestyle is also one of the key factors in boosting your immunity. Engaging in moderate exercise can help to ensure proper blood circulation, thereby assisting immune cells to perform their jobs efficiently. Furthermore, exercise also build strength, boost energy, and help to reduce stress. If exercise regularly, it may also reduce inflammation and help in immune cells regeneration. One should try to engage in a couple light exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming regularly.
Watch Your Diet
Watching our diet is key to boosting our immune system. In the TCM perspective, foods that are spicy, oily, sweet, or raw can trigger the gut system negatively. As such, we should reduce the consumption of such foods. Instead, one can opt for a mild or blander alternatives such as nutritious soups or porridge. On top of this, TCM herbs such as Goji berries and Ginseng can be added to our diets in a timely manner to further strengthen our immunity.
Eat Whole Plant Foods
Whole foods are basically foods that are not processed at all or processed minimally. Some examples are whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables. To boost your immunity, it is most effective to start from your diet because a healthy diet keeps the immune system balanced and prepared to fight against any infection or viruses. A rule of thumb is to ensure that all meals consist of a variety of colours! Foods with rich colours such as purple cabbage or red bell peppers, are an indication of micronutrients and antioxidants which our body needs for protection and recovery from illnesses.
Eat Healthy Fats
You may think that fats should be eliminated from a healthy diet since they are “not healthy”. Yet, there are healthy fats which we need for a strong immune system too. Monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats are beneficial for your heart, cholesterol, and overall health as they can lower risks of heart disease and stroke. They also help to lower bad LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels while increasing good HDL (high-density lipoprotein). Avocados, fatty fish, nuts, chia seeds and olive oil are some food sources full of healthy fats.
Limit Sugar Intake
Limiting your sugar intake is vital in boosting your immunity. When you consume excess sugar, it may increase heart disease risk factors such as inflammation, high blood pressure and obesity. Furthermore, it can also increase the risk of getting Type 2 Diabetes. Since all these diseases can weaken your immune system, it would be wise to reduce intake of added sugars to strengthen your immune system. Avoid sugared and carbonated drinks, as well as limit your consumption of baked goods.
Hydration is Key
Do you know that human bodies are estimated to be made up of 60% water? That should be enough to tell you that water is crucial for our bodies and many of the important body functions. Some of these functions include regulating your body temperature, aiding in brain function, and flushing our toxins from your body. Besides these, water also helps to prevent constipation and helps with digestion. This results in a stronger digestive system and therefore, stronger immune system. So, time to drink up and stay hydrated!
Stress Management
If you wish to strengthen your immunity, managing your stress levels and relieving anxiety is of utmost importance. Stress can contribute to inflammation and imbalances in your immune cell function. Because of stress, you may experience trouble sleeping and exhaustion, headaches, muscle tension, and even digestive problems. If left unchecked, they may lead to worse medical conditions. Hence, you can try TCM health treatments, listen to soothing music, or engage in meditation, Tai Chi or even taking an afternoon to be amidst nature to relax yourself and reduce your stress or anxiety levels.
Include Supplements
Finally, you should include certain supplements in your diet if you feel that you are not getting enough from foods. Vitamin C, zinc, elderberry and echinacea are supplements that can help to boost your immune system and increases your body’s ability to fight against viruses. To strength your immunity, supplement consumption can help greatly.
Joyre TCMedi Spa uses Traditional Chinese Medicine principles in our service delivery. Call or WhatsApp 9230 0355 to book your appointment.
