Life amid a global pandemic has many of us worried about the best way to stay healthy. New variants of COVID-19 have emerged to add to this stress. More than ever, we are all looking for guidance to strengthen our immune systems against these deadly viruses. Consider the tips below to fortify your immune system during these difficult times!
1. Immune Boosting Supplements
In addition to making sure that your Vitamin D levels are in an optimum range, it's a good idea to increase your intake of Vitamin C. Immunity support supplements can help do this.
Improving your diet also increases your intake of antioxidants, which reduces your risk of damage from free radicals. Free radicals are the poisons that damage the tissues inside your body. A diet high in berries, fresh fruits and vegetables will not only reduce your toxin load, but help you fight inflammation.
Diet is important but it's often just not enough. In addition to boosting your intake of fresh produce, consider adding a daily dose of Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and Vitamin E.
Just be aware that Vitamin E can cause stomach upset; some suffer from this when they first start this supplement.
2. Daily Multi-Vitamins
A daily multi-vitamin with plenty of iron and Vitamin D is a good choice to help you avoid a severe response to a viral or bacterial infection. No supplement is guaranteed to prevent a virus, particularly a novel virus such as the COVID-19.
However, you can often protect yourself from secondary infections by boosting your overall health. For example, if you are prone to developing bronchitis after getting a cold, adding a daily multivitamin to your health routine may lessen this risk or at least lessen the severity of the secondary infection.
Even if every calorie of your diet is healthy, it may be hard to completely meet your recommended daily nutrients.
For some with a history of stomach problems, it can be hard to tolerate any supplement that contains iron or zinc. Consider adding a daily serving of a fortified cereal to your routine if vitamins in pill form just won't work. You can pair this with yogurt for more calcium.
3. Vitamin D3 with K2
Talk with your physician about adding D3 and K2 in combination to your daily diet and supplement routine. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that makes it easier for your body to absorb calcium and other important minerals. Foods high in Vitamin D3 include egg yolks, fatty fish, fortified milk, and cod liver oil
While D3 is good for your body, pairing it with vitamin K2 increases your absorption. This combination will allow you to get the most out of your Vitamin D3.
K2 can also be found in egg yolks. In addition, your K2 intake can be upped with regular ingestion of fermented foods. There are many meats that offer a high level of K2, but depending on the diet fed to the animal, that level can vary.
If you're not a fan of fermented soybeans or sauerkraut, consider adding plain shredded cabbage to your salads. It's great for your digestion and does offer both forms of K Vitamins.
4. Better Sleep
If you struggle to sleep, it's important to figure out the real source of the problem. Do you have trouble falling asleep, or trouble staying asleep?
If falling asleep is the problem, focus on your sleep hygiene. Make sure that your bedroom is dark and cool. Do your best to keep screens out of your sleeping space unless silence and darkness get in the way of sleeping.
If you have a hard time staying asleep, it may be time to consider CBDfor sleep. While CBD oils enter the bloodstream quickly, an edible takes a couple of hours to have an impact on your body. A standard dose of CBD taken as an edible can be the tool to help you stay asleep or to fall into the deepest, healthiest level of sleep.
Another critical step to building a healthy sleep pattern is to wind down properly. While you need exercise early in the day to rev up your body, try to let your body wind down as the day darkens. You can even help this along by avoiding electric light for at least an hour before bed, using candles to guide you in the few minutes before bed.
No matter what, it is critically important that you maintain a daily schedule. Get up at the same time each day, set your wind down time, and try to go to bed at the same time each day.
Once you get settled in this pattern, you may find that your sleeping patterns are at least more manageable.
5. Regular Exercise
It's very easy to be welded to the sofa during a pandemic.
However, it's critical that we all get up and moving on a regular basis. Give yourself an exercise treat. Check the sunrise time and get out there and celebrate the day.
This is a great way to control your stress level and reduce the risk of close contact with someone else. Get some of your favorite tea or coffee to treat yourself after your workout.
Each exercise session needs to start with a warm-up. Shorten your stride for the first five hundred steps, then stretch out and expand each step. Once you're warm, start pumping your arms to move your body faster.
When you get home, take the time to stretch fully. If walking is your fitness choice, use your cool-down time to stretch your body from the ankles up and to drink some water. Lubricated joints are longer-lasting joints.
Vitamins, minerals, exercise, and improved sleep are all great ways to obtain a healthy immune system. CBD and natural supplements have minimal side effects while improving your immune function.
Even when COVID-19 has passed, we will need to build back a new normal. Building a healthier body will improve your immune system and make it easier to take on whatever comes!
