Follow these wellness tips and boost your immune system for better resistance to illness.
1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Photo by Gregory Pappas
Lack of sleep can cause the body to be more susceptible to sickness. When we sleep, our bodies heal and repair themselves, flooding our systems with proteins called cytokines which our bodies use to fight infection and inflammation. A lack of sleep can cause a drop in illness-fighting antibodies, as well.If you struggle with sleep, try establishing a calming nighttime routine to ease your body into a restful state. Do a gentle yoga flow, turn off your screens and read a book instead, or drink a big mug of a tea blend that includes chamomile, like Numi’s Moringa teasan. Chamomile has long been used as a gentle herbal sleep aid, and research has shown that it increases sleep quality.
2. GO WITH YOUR GUT HEALTH
Try a Burmese-style fermented tea leaf salad or add this Rooibos Chai Granola to your favorite yogurt.
A healthy digestive system is one of our best defenses against harmful pathogens and bacteria. In addition to keeping us healthy in the first place, a healthy amount of “good” bacteria can increase the effectiveness of treatments for illness.3 To help increase the beneficial bacteria in your system, start by adding probiotic-rich foods into your regular diet — yogurt, kombucha, fermented foods, etc.
3. DRINK TEA
Tea has been used for centuries in a medicinal capacity, and modern medicine agrees that the healing benefits of tea are plentiful. Researchers at Harvard Medical School tested the effect of drinking tea on the body’s ability to fight disease. A substance in tea called L-theanine boosts the production of disease-fighting cells. One experiment showed that immune system blood cells from tea drinkers responded five times faster to germs than did the blood cells of coffee drinkers.4 Herbal teasans have their own set of immune-boosting benefits, as well! For instance, a Hibiscus teasan not only contains a high dosage of antioxidants, it was found to fight bacterial infection and support the liver as it removes toxins from the body.5
4. MANAGE STRESS
Stress can inhibit immune function, leaving our bodies more vulnerable to attack. Stress can be reduced through regular exercise, meditation, or simple lifestyle changes like adding a hobby that helps you relax, or journaling.