5 ways to naturally support your immune system

With the colder months we see a rise in sickness- from colds to flu and everything in between! It can be frustrating when we want to be attending gatherings and seeing family and friends to find ourselves with a cough and overall, not feeling well. I always like to know what I can do to help a situation, so I would like to share with you 5 ways to naturally support your immune system.

5 ways to naturally support your immune system

1.Sleep:

During sleep our bodies repair muscles, organs and other cells. Our immune system strengthens. Hormone production and regulation happens that effect things like hunger and stress. If we do not get enough sleep, we are more likely to have chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It affects our mood and energy.

Bottom line is sleep greatly affects our health and wellness. It is a common thing that people struggle with (raising my hand here big time). So, what are we to do?

Our bodies love routine, so start with that.

Here are some things to try:

• Turn screens off at least 1 hour before bed
• Do a brain dump journal
• Read a book
• Have a cup of chamomile tea
• Move your body during the day
• Get natural sunlight
• Diffuse essential oils that support sleep
• Make your bedroom cool and dark
• See my blog post: “How to get more sleep”.

2.Nutrition:

Focus on getting real food! Our bodies know what to do with it.

Some things to try:

• Eat foods in the most original form
• Food is medicine – ask yourself if what you are about to eat is going to help your body or hurt it
• Processed foods mess with our body’s natural appetite. Including when we feel hungry and when we feel full – it is much easier to overeat processed foods then it is to eat whole foods
• Try filling 1/2 of your plate with veggies and eating that first at each meal
• Make sure you are drinking enough water
• See my blog post on “3 simple ways to improve your nutrition”

3.Rest:

Figure out what actual rest looks like for you!

Here are some things to try:

• Limit screen time – instead of automatically grabbing your phone when you have down time, try:
• reading a book
• doing a meditation
• journaling
• working on a jigsaw puzzle
• writing a gratitude list
• going on a quick walk
• a few yoga poses
• Start a morning routine
• Take a hot bath with Epsom salt
• Declutter for 15 minutes

4.Move your body:

Our bodies are made to move.

Keep it simple and do what feels good.

• Yoga
• Go on a walk
• Ride your bike
• Dance
• Do a workout challenge
• Have an active date with your partner or a friend
• Set a timer for every 10 minute and do 20 jumping jacks every time it goes off
• Get creative – see my post on “20 practical ways to get more movement into your day”.

5.Stress reduction:

Stress impacts our entire body, affects our health and wellness, and every area of our life – work, relationships, parenting, & finances. Finding healthy ways to manage stress is so important.

Some things to try:

• Set healthy boundaries
• Ask for help
• Meditate
• Spend time in nature
• Talk to a friend
• Journal
• See my post “10 ways to deal with stress in a healthy way”

I would love to hear what you think of these 5 ways to naturally support your immune system! Are there some new things that you are going to try?

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****My posts are not to be taken as medical advice. Anything I talk about regarding fitness and nutrition, or any other lifestyle changes comes from my own personal experience or my individual client’s experiences, please consult with your personal medical provider or professional for your specific needs.