Tips To Boost Your Immune System

Eating a well balanced diet with special emphasis on immunity boosting food items like yoghurt, oats, barley, ginger, garlic, fish, mushrooms, turmeric, red bell peppers, herbs and Brussels sprouts is the first step towards tackling this problem.

* Vitamins and minerals specially play an important role in strengthening the immune system and hence do not forget to take sufficient amounts of Vitamin B (nuts, legumes, whole grains), Vitamin C (broccoli, citrus fruits), Vitamin E (whole grains, nuts), Iron (spinach, tofu, raisins), antioxidants (oranges, kiwi, strawberries, papaya, green leafy veggies), Zinc (dairy products, beans), Selenium (whole grains, eggs, chicken), Carotenoid (carrots) and Omega-3 fatty acids (nuts, flax seed oil, salmon).

* Consider taking a multivitamin pill daily, after consultation with your doctor, if you cannot keep up with the daily requirements of these vitamins and minerals.

* Drink lots of water and avoid caffeine since it interferes with the body's immune system. And though you may be tempted by food products that provide empty calories like processed foods, soda, cakes, chocolates, it is best to avoid them and instead focus on strengthening your digestive tract.

* Obesity and unhealthy weight gain are often the culprits behind a weak immune system. Eat in moderation, exercise more and keep a tab on unhealthy foods to avoid your body from putting on unnecessary weight.

* Stick to a moderate but regular exercise schedule. Exercising not only keeps the body fit, reducing the risk of diseases like heart ailments, blood pressure problems and osteoporosis but also helps in managing stress.

* Brisk walking, cycling, swimming are great ways to boost your immunity. Just 15 minutes of exercising every day can bring about a dramatic improvement in the overall health and fitness. So, do not neglect the importance of consistency and dedication.

* Stress produces hormones like cortisol, which decrease the ability of the body to fight infections. Relax yourself by indulging in activities that you enjoy like reading, listening to music, meditating, etc.

* Getting a massage is a great way to destress as is also maintaining a positive attitude in life. Therefore, savor things that you enjoy and do not shy away from a good laugh.

* A minimum of 6-8 hours of sleep is necessary for an adult and sleep deprivation shows its effects on the immune system. While the quantity is important, one must pay close attention to the quality of sleep too.

* Deep sleep helps energize the immune system and rejuvenates from within.

* People with richer social lives and more community support enjoy healthy lives and fight off infections better. Therefore, broaden your social ties, join groups and volunteer to keep yourself and those around you happy.

* Vaccinations have a huge impact on the body's ability to fight infections and keep diseases at bay. Regular vaccinations are therefore important not only for children but also adults.

* We share this planet Earth with a whole lot of other creatures like bacteria, viruses and it is not possible to avoid them altogether. But we can certainly protect our immune systems from their onslaught, keeping ourselves and others around us healthy.