Boost Your Immune System with These 4 Steps

It’s no secret that COVID-19 is making itself known worldwide, in addition to the already prominent cold and flu season.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably taken some extra precautions to reduce your risk of contracting the virus should you unknowingly come into contact with it. 

But even if you do your best to protect yourself, it’s nearly impossible to guarantee you won’t get sick.

The best way to ensure a positive outcome should you contract a virus is to make sure your body has what it needs to effectively fight it off.

How can you do this? Boost your immune system with these four essential steps: Prevent, Avoid, Treat, and Educate.

PREVENT

The first step to kicking a virus to the curb is prevention.

By providing your body with the essentials it needs to function at its best, your immune system will be in tip-top shape to do its job.   

An essential vitamin your immune system needs is vitamin D. The easiest and most readily available way to get vitamin D is through direct sunlight. And the best part about it is it’s free!

You should aim for at least 20 minutes of sunlight per day. And while you’re soaking up those rays, getting some exercise is another way to strengthen your immune system. 

Go for a walk, a jog, or do a full workout while getting your daily dose of sunlight. And guess what— fresh air is also great for your health!

Prevention also requires supplying your body with the nutrients it needs to function well. Make sure you’re eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals so that your body is equipped to fight off any sickness that comes your way. 

Bone broth is a great way to build up your system as well as supplementing your body with vitamins. Always discuss any new supplements with your medical provider before taking them.

AVOID

Along with prevention comes the next step: Avoid. Supplying your body with what it needs will certainly help you out but it won’t be as effective if you don’t also get rid of the bad.

Garbage in, garbage out.

Unhealthy Foods

This goes without saying but unhealthy foods do not allow your body to function at its best and should be avoided, especially during cold and flu season. 

Now this doesn’t mean you can’t have a piece of Grandma’s famous apple pie during the holidays, but it does mean you need to be mindful of what you are putting into your body. 

Negative News

Another important thing that should be avoided is negative news. This doesn’t mean you should crawl in a hole and be ignorant of what is going on in the world, but it does mean you should be mindful of how much time you are spending absorbing news on a daily basis. 

Limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Budget how long you spend each day reading up on the news. What you put into your mind and dwell on can affect your overall health so it’s important to be mindful of what you allow into your mind. 

Killing Good Germs

An additional thing to avoid is excessively cleaning to kill germs. Germs are essential to your overall health. By killing all germs you come into contact with, you set your body up to becoming more vulnerable to viruses and sickness. 

It’s ok to wash your hands or sanitize after a quick trip to the grocery store, but excessively wiping down every door knob and surface in your home probably isn’t a smart thing to do.

TREAT

Should you happen to get sick despite preventing and avoiding, you need to be prepared to supply your body with what it needs to effectively heal. 

Supplements are your best friend, including vitamin C and zinc. Good quality elderberry syrup is a great way to boost your immune system but should only be used during flu season to ensure its effectiveness. 

Turmeric and ginger together are also a great way to boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. 

Essential oils can also help soothe unpleasant symptoms associated with viruses and seasonal illnesses. 

Repeating some of the prevent steps are also a great way to get yourself on the road to recovery.

Sunlight and healthy food will keep your body strong as it heals.

EDUCATE

And finally, take time to research and learn your body and how it functions. Afterall, you only get one body and one life. Take care of it.

There are countless resources available thanks to the Internet and social media. Do some searching and you’ll see there is plenty of information out there to absorb.

The more time you spend learning about your body and how to cultivate wellness, the more equipped you will be to live a healthier life, and help others around you live a healthier life as well.

Be sure to share what you learn with others so they can also allow their bodies to function at their best.

_{*Information included in this post is not to be considered medical advice. You should always seek medical attention if you feel you need it and consult with your medical provider before applying any of these suggestions.}