The immune system is an amazing thing. It single-handedly protects you from foreign germ invaders that make you sick. But, is there a way to boost your immune system to make it stronger and better apt to protecting you? A simple answer: yes. But, it may be more complex than that.
Your immune system is just that, a system. It’s not a single entity that can easily be improved by doing one specific thing. There must be a well-rounded set of things in order to give your immune system a fighting chance. By having a healthy lifestyle, you can boost the effectiveness of your immune system.
At a young age an absolute onslaught of germs enter the body. Think of how babies and kids put everything in their mouths. This introduces numerous germs to their body and allows their new immune system to combat them and build strength and resistance. Without that, the chances of getting sick later in life increase because the immune system has never been tested and never had a chance to increase its defensive capabilities.
As seniors, your immune system has weakened with age. This is why seniors are recommended to stay away from people that are sick. But that may not always be possible. The fact is, you probably want your immune system to be as strong as it can be. While there’s certainly no guarantee or quick-fix, there are certain ways to give it the best chance. The key is to balance these things all together for a healthier you.
Eat Fruits and Vegetables
That’s right, the old adage, “Eat your fruits and vegetable” actually has truth to it. When it comes to your immune system, adding in healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables gives your immune system a huge boost in quality vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals help fuel your body and strengthen its ability to defend from outside invaders. At a Bonaventure Senior Living community, whether it’s retirement living, assisted living, or memory care, we’re all about fresh, nutritional food. Our Dining Perfected menu provides a great source of fresh fruits and vegetables to help not only satisfy, but also provide healthy, delicious food.
Exercising on a regular basis is essential to a healthy immune system. The number one reason why is simple: exercising improves the circulation of blood. Better blood flow allows the cells and substances of the immune system to more easily through the body, which allows for a better and stronger response when bad germs invade. Independent living, assisted living, and memory care at Bonaventure Senior Living all have a professionally designed Fitness Perfected program. Each Fitness Perfected class is built to allow each resident to move at their own pace and become healthier and fit in a fun and engaging way.
Sleep is such an important thing to do. It’s the time your body does the bulk of its healing, strengthening, and replenishing. Making sure that you’re getting the recommended eight hours of sleep every day can ensure that you give your body a chance to fix itself. It’s a simple and natural way to boost your immunity.
Easier said than done, right? Well, taking certain steps to avoid infections can certainly help. Washing your hands frequently is important as it limits the amount of potential germs from entering your body via hands and mouth. Simple hand soap is sufficient, no need for anti-bacterial soap. While it does have a place (exposure to blood, vomit, etc.) using anti-bacterial soap or hand sanitizer can actually kill good germs along with the bad ones. Using a simple hand soap will do the trick. Also, making sure that you cook meats thoroughly is very important. While a medium-rare steak is nice, there is always a chance of food-borne illness. Better safe than sorry.
Avoid Smoking and Drinking
It’s a well-known fact that smoking is really bad for you. It can cause a lot of problems, anything from cancer, high blood pressure, and more. It also hinders your immune system. While your immune system is trying to fight all the bad things smoking does to your body, it could miss some nasty germs that slip on past, so to speak. It will be better for your body as a whole to quit smoking. Having a refreshing cocktail on a Friday night can be a wonderful thing. But drinking too much, or too frequently, can severely halt your immune system’s abilities. Either not drinking or drinking in moderation is best to maintaining and improving your immune system.
Immune System Conclusion
One of the most important takeaways from the five ways to boost your immune system is simply this: be well-rounded. The more of these you can do on a constant basis, the better chance you give yourself. Simply cherry-picking one here or there is alright, but it serves you better to maintain a balance of this list. Be well.
Bonaventure Senior Living
At Bonaventure Senior Living, we have Retirement Perfected, Living Perfected, Dining Perfected, and Fitness Perfected. The best way to see for yourself is to Book-A-Tour today and discover how you can live life on your own terms. We specialize in Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care, that way, no matter what your current situation is, we have all levels of care covered if your needs ever change.
With Independent Living, we want you to enjoy Simplified Living, allowing you to have the freedom to do what makes you happy. Our Independent Living is designed to accommodate the exceptional senior lifestyle that you’ve earned. What’s even better, is that with Independent Living we offer whatever supportive services that you may need at any time you may need them. Now that’s Retirement Perfected.
Assisted Living at Bonaventure Senior Living is simple: all the lifestyle benefits of our Independent Living, but with any extra support that you may need. Our philosophy is based on three simple things: choice, independence, and dignity. Now that’s Assisted Living at its finest.
Every senior is a unique person, and our Memory Care approach is no different. We tailor our Memory Care by connecting with family members and taking time to understand each person’s specific circumstances. This includes mental, emotional, and physical health. Our Memory Care creates an honorable and professional plan to make sure that each person lives their life to the fullest. That’s the way Memory Care should be.