Elderly Care: Helping You Deal With the Dying Process

Three Safe, Natural Ways To Rev Up Your Immune System

8 June 2016

Julio Carr

Do you suffer from allergies or find that you become ill more often than your peers? Both of these issues can often be attributed to a weak immune system. Here's a look at three safe, natural ways to rev up your immune system for better overall health.

Have your spine adjusted.

What does your back have to do with your immune health? A lot, actually! Your spinal nerves, which control most of your body's systems, including your immune system, pass through small canals in your vertebrae. If your vertebrae are not properly aligned, they can place pressure on these nerves or irritate soft tissues that then swell and press on these nerves. When there is pressure on nerves that control your immune system, it tends not to function properly. Having your back adjusted by a chiropractor relieves this pressure, so immune system organs like your spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes can function properly.

Get more exercise.

Exercise won't just boost your mood and help you maintain a healthy weight -- it will boost your immune system, too. Scientists are not exactly sure how exercise bolsters the immune system, but they speculate that it could trigger changes in white blood cells that allow them to detect and fight off illnesses earlier on. It has also been proposed that the brief increase in body temperature following exercise may help your immune cells function more effectively. To harness the maximum benefits, you want to shoot for moderate exercise levels. (Over-doing it is not good for your immune system). Try taking 20 - 30 minute walks each day, visiting the gym every other day, or taking a few bike rides per week.

Get more sleep and better-quality sleep.

When you don't get enough sleep, your immunity suffers. And lack of sleep is not uncommon, with between 50 and 70 million Americans suffering from sleep disorders or struggling to stay awake or alert. Experts recommend between 7.5 and 8 hours of sleep per night for optimum health. If you're getting this much sleep but still feeling sluggish and tired, it may be that you're not getting good-quality sleep. Try improving your sleep quality by:

• Using light-blocking shades or curtains to keep your room darker
• Avoiding looking at computer and phone screens for at least an hour before bed
• Going to bed at the same time every night
• Avoiding stimulants like caffeine in the afternoon and evening

With the tips above, your immunity should improve in no time. For additional advice and assistance, see out an immunology doctor. 

 

Share

Search