How To Strengthen Your Immune System

To know how to strengthen your immune system, you must understand how you may be sabotaging it. Are your daily lifestyle habits boosting your body's immunity? Or, are they damaging your immune system? Bad habits mean your body will have less resistance to colds, flu, and other infections. To strengthen your immune system, you must replace your bad habits with good ones. Here is a list of five immune system busters--and a few boosters to help counter the negative effects. Read the list carefully, and consider where you can make some improvements.

1. Overweight. Are you carrying around some extra pounds? Overweight people have a higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Your body’s excess fat cells can affect your immune system. Fat cells can trigger chronic inflammation, and ongoing inflammation can damage healthy tissues. You can boost your immunity simply by losing weight.
2. Inactivity. Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Sitting at a desk or driving a truck all day can leave you feeling sluggish. It can leave your immune system tired, too. Inactivity increases your risk of colds and other infections. It can also have an indirect impact on your body’s immunity to infections--poor sleep, overweight, and other problems. Moderate exercise, even a daily half-hour walk, can boost your immune system.
3. Sugar And Fat. Too much sugar or fat in the body can weaken your immune system. According to WebMD, just two cans of soda can your body’s white cell ability to fight bacteria. Meals high in saturated fat have the same effect. To strengthen your immune system, examine your diet and lower your sugar and fat intake. And add antioxidants, such as Vitamin E and selenium, to your diet.
4. Stress. While short-term stress can boost the immune system (“fight or flight”), chronic stress will weaken your body’s immunity. Too many stress hormones can suppress the immune system. People under constant stress are more vulnerable to infections and illness. If you want to strengthen your immune system, you must address the stress issues in your life. Relaxation techniques can also help.
5. Isolation. Social networks are good for your physical health as well as your mental health. This includes your immune system. People who feel alone have weaker immunity systems than people who feel connected to friends. According to WebMD, one study showed that isolation can change immunity on a cellular level. To strengthen your immune system, join a group, make some friends, and laugh a little.