Have you every observed that some people seem to catch every bug
that goes around, while others seem to just rise above it? The
connection between obesity and chronic illnesses like Diabetes and
Hypertension is well documented in clinical literature. What may be less
widely recognized is that weight loss (or maintaining a healthy weight)
can contribute to your body's ability to fight off all kinds of
illness, like the cold and flu, simply by boosting the immune system. I
offer 12 recommendations developed to help you stay healthy and fight
off illness and disease.
The question of how the immune system is boosted is not easily answered. Research on immunology continues to try to define the specific factors that links the body's ability to fight off disease. While the details may be elusive, the findings link a healthy life style, including exercise and nutrition with increased ability to fight off illness and disease. However, leaving the specific cause and effect questions for the scientists, there are very specific, actionable steps you can take to ensure your best health. These steps, all lifestyle related effectively keep your body in its tip top working order allowing your immune system to efficiently do its job and block illness.
When your body is stressed by any of the lifestyle factors to be discussed below, the immune system becomes compromised and you fall victim to any passing virus that you get exposed to.
Similarly stress, as a contributor to illness, is missing from the Harvard list. However, it could be said that getting regular exercise, adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy blood pressure (all included in the Harvard list) are the fundamental techniques used in managing stress in addition to behavior techniques like time management.
These 12 factors of a healthy lifestyle interact with each other and all contribute to your body's ability to stay healthy. If you are overweight, losing weight through exercise and solid nutrition will improve your body's ability to stay healthy and you will feel better, have more energy, sleep better and look younger.
The question of how the immune system is boosted is not easily answered. Research on immunology continues to try to define the specific factors that links the body's ability to fight off disease. While the details may be elusive, the findings link a healthy life style, including exercise and nutrition with increased ability to fight off illness and disease. However, leaving the specific cause and effect questions for the scientists, there are very specific, actionable steps you can take to ensure your best health. These steps, all lifestyle related effectively keep your body in its tip top working order allowing your immune system to efficiently do its job and block illness.
When your body is stressed by any of the lifestyle factors to be discussed below, the immune system becomes compromised and you fall victim to any passing virus that you get exposed to.
- Eat a diet high in fiber including fruits, vegetables and whole grains with low saturated fats.
- Get regular exercise.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
- Maintain a healthy blood pressure.
- Drink alcohol only in moderation.
- Avoid tobacco.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Avoid infections through good hand washing and clean food prep practices.
- Follow recommended preventive screening guidelines for your age and gender.
- Eat a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates and high in protein.
- Manage stress.
- Stay well hydrated with water.
Similarly stress, as a contributor to illness, is missing from the Harvard list. However, it could be said that getting regular exercise, adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy blood pressure (all included in the Harvard list) are the fundamental techniques used in managing stress in addition to behavior techniques like time management.
These 12 factors of a healthy lifestyle interact with each other and all contribute to your body's ability to stay healthy. If you are overweight, losing weight through exercise and solid nutrition will improve your body's ability to stay healthy and you will feel better, have more energy, sleep better and look younger.