Any time is a good time to start taking care of your body. As we grow accustomed to life in this day and age, there are increased chances of being faced with ordeals that are best dealt with with a strong body and mind. It’s a good time to start taking care of your body through a healthy diet and lifestyle and to meditate and start doing yoga in the comfort of your home.
Findings indicate with increases population, human displacement as well as climate change, biological threats are becoming more common. While outbreaks of these threats might be inevitable, there is so much we can do on a personal level to protect ourselves. Now is as good a time as any to take a holistic approach to general health maintenance.
There are a number of small changes we can make, little habits we can incorporate to help safeguard ourselves. In our everyday, hectic lives we are prone to coughs, colds, runny noses, stomach aches and so many other kinds of viruses and illnesses. A positive immune response can be essential to staying healthy. While washing your hands multiple times in a day seems like the easiest habit to adopt, there are a number of little things one can do to gear their system to have stronger immune responses.
Be it the common flu or a bigger viral threat, the immune system can protect the body from possibly harmful substances by recognizing and responding to antigens. Let’s talk about some of the ways you can start to build a stronger immune response and a healthier body.
Mindfulness & Meditation
There are many different forms of mindfulness practices that have the potential to reduce mind and bodily stress. Stress leaves us at risk of many different kinds of infections and diseases both short term and long term. Causing an inflammatory response in the body, stress hormone cortisol makes you immediately vulnerable. As the body faces stress, it exhibits signs of physical and mental exhaustion causing our immune system to lose the ability to protect us.
Breathing exercises and meditation has the potential to strengthen the lungs, fortify the respiratory system and clear your nasal passages. Since most diseases attack these areas, meditation can help keep them at bay. For instance, Kappalabathi, commonly known as breath of fire, is considered a great meditation technique that is designed to stimulate the thymus gland, a major component in the immune system of the body. Studies indicate, even a simple Shavasana, or corpse pose is great to de-stress and rejuvenate the body and become more in tune to it.
Right now is the best time to practice mindful meditation amongst other benefits, to keep the worries and stress at bay.
Feeling like meditation could do you some good to calm your mind and body? Try out this free 15min workout ‘Meditation for recovery‘
Yoga & exercise
There are many healthy ways to boost your immune system and exercise is one way that you can do all by yourself. Research by Harvard Medical says exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight increases immunity right way. Yoga with the added benefit of meditation and building mindfulness has a great effect on keeping the body healthy and strong. This study found a threefold change in immune cells after yoga versus a control movement program.
Yoga also promotes other healthy activities and eating. In a 2018 study participants admitted to developing healthier habits through mindfulness and Yoga practice. In an extensive study of Yoga and mindfulness, It was found out that Yoga allows the body, especially the endocrine system to increase its ability to reduce stress, while many yoga postures bring about a stimulation of organs, keeping them up to their functions. Much emphasis on improving the breathing also supports, aerates and takes care of the lungs, a major component that’s most affected by seasonal change and viruses.
Poses such as downward-facing dog and other kinds of inversions are great to encourage blood flow to the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is responsible for cleansing toxins and disseminating immune-strengthening cells throughout the body. Chest openers are also a great defense to keep the lungs working well.
Feeling a little overwhelmed? Try out this free 15min workout ‘Stress Release & Relax Yoga‘
Sleep & diet
According to research, your body cannot produce enough cytokines without sufficient sleep. Cytokines are a type of protein naturally produced in your body that has a positive effect on your immune response, amping up your body’s ability to respond. One study found that lack of sleep negatively hampered the disease-fighting ability of a type of lymphocyte called T cells also having an effect on the natural biorhythm of the body. Sleep foundation recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night to boost immunity.
A good diet is just as important. It can have a serious effect on boosting the immune system. A healthy immune system has so much to do with good, regular nourishment. For instance, there is enough evidence to suggest that having a good level of macronutrients in your body positively affects your health and immunity. Not just that, research suggests that plant-based diets lead to lower levels of body inflammation and a stronger immune system. Some food groups such as leafy green vegetables and wholeweats are scientifically proven to supercharge the immune system too.
Looking to build immunity and learn more about whether a plant-based diet is good for you? Read on to know all about the benefits of the supercharged 10.
Keep a lookout for signs from your body. Stay healthy and safe. Eat well and get sufficient sleep. Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind bringing a lot of health benefits. You can start taking action. Here is a 2-week free trial to start. Stay safe and see you on the mat!