Ah-choo! Oh, that awful achy feeling when every muscle and bone in your body just hurts. You can't sleep, you have no appetite and you certainly can't afford to be under the weather for even just a few days. Cold and flu season will be upon us again and there is no better time to protect yourself than right now with a strong immune system. What is the immune system? Very simply, our immune system is like a shield that protects our body from the germs, bacteria and viruses that can cause illness. The weaker the immune system, the more vulnerable we are to getting sick. The stronger the immune system, the more we protect ourselves from getting sick. This isn't to say that we won't ever catch a cold, but with a strong immune system, we will also be better able to fight off any illness faster. So, how do you build a strong immune system? There are several things we can do to make sure our immune system stays healthy and becomes strong. The first is nutrition. You know the saying, "garbage in, garbage out?" It's the same thing with our bodies. Bad eating habits result in poor nutrition, which cannot give our bodies the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs in order to stay strong. There's nothing wrong with a cheeseburger or ice cream on occasion, but moderation is the key. Unfortunately, even the best nutritional habits are challenged to provide the body with all it needs to build a really strong immune system. Nutritional supplementation, such as vitamins, minerals and immune boosters are important to help fill in the blanks that even the best nutrition can't. Exercise is another great way to help build a strong immune system. You don't have to join a gym or hire a personal trainer to exercise. Ever notice how much better you feel after a nice long walk? Regular bike rides; walks, gardening, and yes-even housework are all great forms of exercise that will help contribute. There are also certain things to avoid. Excessive stress and smoking are just two things that can really compromise and weaken the immune system. I know from experience when I was in a high-stress work environment, I felt terrible and became sick more frequently. Building and maintaining a strong immune system is not something that happens overnight and that we can forget about in just a few short months. It is something that we must continue to strive for our entire lives. We will be less apt to get sick. We will be able to fight off illness better and we will be able to lead a much higher quality of life for the long term. Get started today and create real smart health for today and tomorrow. Copyright 2005 - Patty Gale |
