When it comes down to wanting to stay healthy and not get sick, especially during the colder months, I’m sure you’ve heard it all. Don’t touch your face with dirty hands! Stay away from others who are sick! Wash your hands and sing “Happy Birthday” twice! Yes, while these methods are important to keep in mind when it comes down to wanting to keep healthy and safe, there is also so much more you can do to keep your immune system strong. Think of your immune system as your body’s own personal defense team, it’s trained to recognize and fight off intruders such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses before they cause you any harm and make you feel sick. In today’s world, there are so many different illnesses that you can catch and it can be difficult to keep a strong immune system. Many different factors can put you at risk including stress, poor sleep, and even allergies can weaken your immune system. As you age, keeping it strong becomes even more important.

Here are 5 secrets to a stronger immune system:

  1. Maintain Health Vitamin D Levels: This vitamin plays an important role in bone health, mood stability, and of course, your immune function. Vitamin D also known as “The Sunshine Vitamin” helps to reduce inflammation, keep immune cells active, and enhance your body’s ability to fight bacteria and infections. When your vitamin D levels are low, you are prone to a higher risk of autoimmune diseases and illness. The most well known source of vitamin D is sunlight. Supplements, as well as certain foods (fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified dairy products, fortified orange juice) also are a great source of vitamin D.

  2. Avoid Excessive Sugar: Limiting your intake of sugar reduces inflammation in the body and supports a healthy gut. Rapid glucose elevations can weaken the function of the immune cell. When there is a high intake of sugar, it will suppress white blood cells. When this happens, it makes it harder for your body to fight infections and weakens the immune system.

  3. Engage in Consistent, Moderate Exercise: Regular exercise improves circulation (promotes the elimination of toxins), promotes the movement of immune cells, and reduces inflammation. Other benefits include, regulating stress hormones, and enhancing immune function leading to your body being prepared to fight illnesses.

  4. Prioritize a Good Night’s Rest: In order to support a healthy immune system, adults need to get at least 7-9 hours of rejuvenating sleep every night. When you fall asleep at night, your cortisol levels drop, which then the body’s repair cells produce infection fighting proteins, which will then strengthen your immune system. When you aren’t getting enough sleep, your defenses weaken, this makes you more vulnerable to illness. 

  5. Acupuncture: With acupuncture treatments, your immune system improves due to treatments improving the circulation throughout your body. Acupuncture reduces stress levels, and balances your QI (energy flow). Through selected acupoints, acupuncture helps with regulating your immune responses by promoting the production of white blood cells (your body’s personal security guards). It also helps support the body’s defense mechanism, and reduces inflammation. As stated above, a good night’s rest is important. With acupuncture, your sleep quality improves, your gut health strengthens, and your stress hormone levels reduce. People who receive regular acupuncture treatments tend to get sick less frequently. 

Are you in need of a stronger immune system and would like to experience fewer sick days? Better sleep and reduced stress? Call Westbury Acupuncture today to schedule a free consultation with our practitioner Jae Won Kim and see how we can help you stay healthy and resilient!