Having a strong immune system is key to being able to fight off or lessen the effects of getting sick.  It’s no doubt we all want to do what we can in our day-to-day to be at our most vibrant health. There isn’t just one thing that affects how well your immunity kicks in, but many factors in the way you live that can help give your immune system a boost. 

Having a healthy, balanced lifestyle really includes what type of foods you eat, if you’re getting enough exercise, if you’re getting rid of toxins in your body,  if you’re getting enough sleep and how you manage the stress in your life.  

Below are some top line tips you can adopt right now that will help give you a stronger, better, more robust immune system.  

Supplement. 

The top 3 best immune-boosting vitamins are vitamins  C, B6 and E. The addition of L-glutamine in a daily smoothie can also support a healthy gut lining and optimal digestion. Taking a high quality probiotic is also beneficial as 60 to 80 percent of your immune system is in your gut, so you want to make sure it’s working well.

Eat Whole Foods.   

Avoid processed foods and sugar.  Instead aim for an organic diet with plenty of whole foods, i.e., fruits, vegetables and lean, grass-fed animal protein.  The top 15 immune boosting foods are citrus fruits, red bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, plain yogurt, almonds, turmeric, green tea, papaya, kiwi, sunflower seeds, shellfish + chicken.  

Exercise. 

Regular exercise is one of the pillars of healthy living.  It does everything from help you manage stress and improve your mood to improve your cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, control body weight and protects against a variety of diseases. Moving every day, whether it’s a walk in nature, yoga, weights or some other form of exercise all help contribute to a healthy immune system.  

Sleep.  

Getting regular and enough sleep is key to giving your body the ability to regenerate and reset and have time to go through its cleansing cycle.  Sleep deprivation actually increases cortisol that suppresses your immune function and makes it almost impossible to lose weight.  

Reduce Stress. 

Being mindful of how you react to situations and taking steps to let go of things out of your control are vital to reducing stress.  Daily meditation and gratitude journaling are two practices you may want to consider adopting and are highly beneficial to keeping stress in check. 

Don’t Smoke. Smoking compromises your lungs and literally every organ in your body making you more susceptible to pneumonia, influenza and other viruses.