Boosting & Maintaining Your Immune System for Long Term Health
By: Dr. Bryant D. Snyder, DC
Now more than ever we want you to keep your immune system healthy and strong by practicing healthy habits. Your immune system is a well-organized team that protects you from outside and inside threats to your body.
Immunity and it's Importance
To protect yourself from health issues and illness, boosting and maintaining a healthy immune system is essential. The immune system is like the watchmen of the wall, and when your immune cells are strong, the wall of protection is strong.
When your immune system detects potentially dangerous bacteria or viruses, such as the common cold or larger viruses like Coronavirus (CoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), it unleashes a powerful army to destroy what could potentially harm your body.
It's important to understand that there are actions you can take to prioritize your health and wellness and boost your immune system.
Load Up on Fruits, Vegetables, & Lean Meats
While no one food can prevent illness, a diet with plenty of vitamins and nutrients supports a healthy immune system.
Limit Sugar Intake
While consuming some sugar every day isn't harmful, consuming too much puts you at risk for some deadly diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a person's sugar consumption per day should be no more than 10% of their total daily caloric intake.
- Curb sugar cravings by staying hydrated. Many cravings are actually signs of dehydration so drinking a glass of water could help you beat that sweet tooth.
- Having a piece of fruit may help satisfy sugar cravings. Bananas, apples, oranges work great.
- Choose dark chocolate which contains polyphenols and protect the body's tissues against oxidative stress and associated pathologies.
Stay Hydrated and Get Plenty of Sleep
Hydration and sleep can help your body stay healthy and prepared to ward off attacks on your immune system.
- Drinking water throughout the day can boost your immunity as it helps carry oxygen to your cells, and naturally eliminate toxins and bacteria from the body.
- During sleep, your body releases cytokines, a protein that targets infection and inflammation, strengthening your immune system.
Get Movement Every Day
Exercise including walking and gardening supports your immune system and helps neutralize stress, another factor that can alter your immunity.
- Exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system and promotes circulation which allows systems and cells to work more efficiently
- When we move, our immunity boosts, hormones regulate, and our body detoxifies better.
At Chronic Care of Richmond, we want you to understand the ways you can boost your immune system and take an active role in staying safe and healthy!!
About Dr. Bryant Snyder, DC
Dr. Bryant Snyder has been in private practice in Richmond for 18 years and is the owner and clinical director of Chronic Care of Richmond. A leader in the field of non-drug, non-surgical chronic pain procedures, Dr. Snyder and his team have successfully managed thousands of patients suffering from chronic joint pain, peripheral neuropathy, and other chronic neurologic and metabolic conditions.