5 ways to boost your immune system naturally

They say that prevention is the best medicine and we couldn't agree more. So if you want to know some things you can do to keep your body strong and healthy, check out these 5 ways to boost your immune system naturally. 

1. Eat healthy fats

The healthy fat found in foods like salmon, olive oil, avocado and nuts help to decrease inflammation in the body, which when left untreated can suppress your immune system. Make sure you’re getting your recommended serving of foods containing monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (watch out for serving size as they’re also quite calorie dense). 

2. Clock your 8 hours 

We’ve all been told how important sleep is for our health, but did you know it’s closely tied to our immunity too? It’s no coincidence you start to feel sick and run down when you’re running on minimal sleep. Getting the recommended amount of rest each night will help naturally strengthen your immune system.

3. Limit alcohol consumption 

Alcohol can interfere with our bodies ability to produce various blood cells, including white blood cells, which are key players in our immune system. These little guys help our bodies fight off infection, so a low white blood cell count leaves will compromise your strength of your immune system and leave you far more susceptible to infection. 

4. Exercise regularly 

In addition to the multitude of physical and mental benefits exercise has on our overall health and wellbeing, regular exercise also does wonders for our immunity. Exercise increases blood flow, to help the cells and other substances in our bodies flow through much more efficiently. 

5. Reduce stress levels 

Have you ever heard that term ‘worried sick’? Stress literally can make us sick. When we experience periods of stress, it raises our levels of cortisol, a little stress hormone, which can weaken our immune system and cause inflammation in the body if it’s raised for too long.