With the spread of coronavirus, the whole human race is suffering a pandemic which never happened before. It is not less than a nightmare with no available vaccine or treatment so far. According to WHO, the only way to stop yourself from coronavirus disease (COVID 19) is to follow its prevention methods.
It is nearly impossible to contain yourself to keep COVID-19 away. Instead, we can improve our immunity to fight back coronavirus. Our immune system is such that it can shield the body from harmful viruses, but due to the unhealthy lifestyle, most of us have weak immunity against such viruses.
In the coronavirus pandemic, it is crucial to support our immunity. We can boost our immunity by doing some small modifications in our daily routine.
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Why are we not immune to the coronavirus?
While we have developed immunity against seasonal flu and cold, but COVID-19 is a new virus for our body. The human race has never registered any such virus before, and that’s why we are susceptible to this virus.
Although there is no vaccine yet to cure coronavirus, but we can defeat coronavirus disease by boosting our immunity. Following are few tips to boost your immunity naturally to fight against coronavirus.
Ten simple ways to boost your immune system
1. Eat healthy food
According to a report published by ASSOCHAM, eating nutrient-rich food helps in developing immunity in our bodies. To improve your immunity against coronavirus, one has to take plenty of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables like carrot, spinach, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, dark leafy greens, tomato, mango, and different citrus fruits.
These vegetables and fruits contain vitamins A, C, D, E, and helpful minerals, which act as an immunity booster for our body. Special care should be taken for old age people and children as they are more vulnerable to novel coronavirus.
2. Take a minimum of 6-7 hours of sleep.
Sleeping well is the easiest way to increase immunity against viruses. The human body is designed such that it repairs itself from all wear and tear while sleeping.
Taking not enough sleep will not only make you feel tired and lethargic all day, but it also affects your immunity. To build immunity against viruses, it is highly recommended to take a minimum of 6-7 hours of sleep.
3. Stay hydrated
Drinking water is another easiest yet effective way to improve your immunity. It helps your body fight fatigue and flushes out toxins from your body, further preventing germs from spreading.
4. Exercise should be on your daily to-do list.
Regular exercise with a healthy diet is all you need to improve your immunity. Stress and depression are known to decrease the T-cells in our body, which plays a crucial role in hampering our immunity.
It is proven that regular exercise reduces stress and improves blood circulation while reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Try to include at least 30 minutes of exercise in your routine, and you will start feeling better immunity towards cold and flu.
5. Destress yourself
Stress, depression, anxiety has a very negative effect on our immunity system. Research shows that stress reduces white blood cell production, making our body susceptible to the common cold and flu.
It is essential to keep yourself calm and relaxed during this pandemic. Add meditation and exercise to keep yourself relaxed. Healthy food and good sleep will also help in destressing yourself.
6. Supplements to include in your diet
Supplementing your diet with nutrients that might be lacking in your diet is an excellent way to support your immunity. Adding Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and minerals like magnesium, selenium, and zinc will help your body remove any respiratory infection or viruses.
7. Say no to smoking and alcohol.
According to the world health organization, people with smoking habits are more prone to COVID-19. Smoking involves contact of the cigarette with your finger, which increases the risk of transmitting coronavirus.
Also, smoking reduces lung capacity and cause more susceptibility towards the novel coronavirus. On the other hand, alcohol reduces immunity, so it must also be avoided.
8. Reduce inflammation
Processed meat, excessive sugar intake, alcohol are a few of the inflammatory items which you should avoid to keep your immune system active all the time. These items make your immune system dizzy, which makes our body very susceptible to virus attacks.
9. Consider probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be taken through fermented foods or supplements. These are known for boosting immunity in several ways. Probiotics are the good bacteria, and it has several health benefits such as weight loss, improved digestive system, and repairing immunity are few among several advantages.
10. Include honey in your diet
Honey in Ayurveda is considered as a medicine for several diseases. It has a rich amount of antioxidants, which makes it very useful in increasing immunity. Flavonoids and polyphenols present in honey protect the body against free radicals and also repair damaged cells. Green tea with honey can be consumed regularly to boost immunity.
