The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not constitute medical or other professional advice.

By Janice Parker | Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

New flu viruses and bacteria come around each year. It’s important to fight these with a strong immune system. Here are several things you can do to improve your immune system.

Attitude
A positive attitude helps a person to be happy and improves all body functions. A negative attitude can change your body chemistry and can be detrimental to all the body systems. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Proverbs 17:22” An attitude of gratitude changes everything.

Stress and anxiety
Relief is the key to a healthy immune system. Long time stress can promote an imbalance in the immune cell function. Lowering stress through exercise and relaxing can help your system to function well. Spending time with God in bible study and prayer, trusting in Him to care for you, and asking the Holy Spirit to guide your life will help relieve your stress, along with good nutrition and rest.

Nutrition
Eating plant foods, like fruit, vegetables, seed, nuts and legumes are rich in antioxidants and help to lessen inflammation and free radicals. High levels of free radicals can cause inflammation in the body. The abundance of fiber in plant foods feed your gut micro- biomes and healthy bacteria. These help to keep harmful pathogens from getting into your body through your digestive tract.

Sleep
Getting enough sleep is very important. Your body renews itself while you are sleeping. Adults need at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. It’s better to have several of these hours before midnight.

Exercise
Moderate exercise, like brisk walking, biking, swimming, and hiking, can boost your immune system and help to reduce inflammation and promote healthy immune cells.

Water
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Drinking 2 glasses of water upon rising will help you to clean out your system and get you going for the day. Dehydration can cause abnormal physical performance, like thinking clearly, the digestion process, and proper heart and kidney functions. It can increase susceptibility to illness and disease. It’s better to drink water to keep hydrated because it contains no calories, additives, or sugar.

Healthy Fats
Eating healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, English walnuts, flax seeds, and chia seeds, have omega 3 and are anti-inflammatory. They can help reduce chronic inflammation that suppresses the immune system.

Fermented Foods
Using fermented foods or probiotic supplements, which are rich in good bacteria, give you what you need to have a healthy digestive tract. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, and natto, can provide these probiotics.

Added Sugars
By lowering your intake of added sugar to foods, which can cause inflammation, will help you boost your immune system. Eating fruits instead of cookies, cakes, and pies, will help with weight control, and strengthen your system. 2 cans of soda can lower your immune system within 30 minutes after you drink it. The lowered level can last up to 5 hours. This gives your body less protection to fight disease.

Doing all these things will help to reinforce your body’s immune system and keep you well and strong.