70 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2021
LIVE+WELL
PREVENTIVE WELLNESS
BOOSTING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
The immune system is a powerful
component of the human body. The immune
system recognizes when viruses,
bacteria and other foreign invaders
enter or compromise the body, and
then takes action to prevent illnesses
from taking over. The average person
can help his or her immune system do
its job more effectively by making the
immune system as strong as it can be.
Harvard Medical School says that diet,
exercise, age, and psychological stress
may affect immune system response.
Certain lifestyle choices can promote
a strong immune system.
GET ADEQUATE SLEEP
Doctors believe sleep and immunity
are closely tied. A study of 164 healthy
adults published by the National
Institutes of Health found that those
who slept fewer than six hours each
night were more likely to catch a cold
than people who slept for more than
six hours. Aim for adequate rest each
night to keep your body in top form.
EAT FRUITS, VEGETABLES
Fruits and vegetables supply the
powerhouse antioxidants that are essential
for protecting a body against
free radicals. Free radicals may play a
role in heart disease, cancer, and other
diseases. Serve fruits and/or vegetables
with every meal to ensure you’re
getting enough antioxidant-rich foods.
CONSUME FIBER, FERMENTED
FOODS
Fiber can help feed the gut microbiome,
which is linked to a robust
immune system. The microbiome
also may prevent harmful pathogens
from entering the body through the
digestive tract. Data also suggests that
eating more fermented foods can further
strengthen and populate healthy
bacteria in the gut.
EXERCISE REGULARLY
Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise
per day, advises the American
Heart Association. Thirty minutes of
exercise each day can go a long way
toward keeping the body healthy.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine
says physical activity may help flush
bacteria out of the lungs and airways.
Exercise causes changes in antibodies
and white blood cells. These antibodies
and white blood cells circulate rapidly,
so they may detect illnesses earlier than
they would if you do not exercise. Body
temperature also rises during exercise,
which could naturally prevent bacteria
from growing.
TRY TO MINIMIZE STRESS
According to the website Simply Psychology,
when people are stressed, the
immune system’s ability to fight off antigens
is reduced, making people more
susceptible to infections. The stress
hormone corticosteroid can suppress
the effectiveness of the immune system.
Limiting stress through meditation and
breathing exercises, or trying to remove
stressors from one’s life, may help.
A healthy immune system is vital to
fending off or recovering from illness.
-Metro Creative Connection
Harvard Medical School says that
diet, exercise, age, and psychological
stress may affect immune system
response. Certain lifestyle choices
can promote a strong immune system.
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