In the wake of coronavirus, adopt these 5 ways to boost your immunity

With the fear of coronavirus spreading as rapidly as the pandemic itself, it is important that people around the world maintain certain protocols to combat the dreaded disease. 

While washing one’s hands with soap and water and using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% of alcohol are being recommended – apart from avoiding close contact with people who are sick – medical experts have found that older adults and people who have a weakened immunity due to severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung disease or diabetes seem to be at a higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illnesses.

With worries about the new coronavirus taking the world by storm gathering more heat, questions are arising whether boosting one’s immune system will help people in fighting the disease.

And while not much is still known about combating COVID-19, a healthier immune system does protect the body from a host of diseases by destroying anything it recognises as foreign to the body including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites or unhealthy cells.

The first line of defence against any illness is undertaking a healthy lifestyle. Here are the five ways to keep the immune system strong so that it can fight diseases like coronavirus.

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1. Exercising is a must for better immunity
Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, and helps control body weight. It can contribute to a healthy immune system and promote good circulation which allows cells of the immune system to better do their job in the body.

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2. Low stress is better for your immune system
Turns out stress hampers the immune system, making one more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. As per a study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, participants who were more stressed had a greater likelihood of developing a cold when exposed to the cold virus. The study also found that stress reduced the immune system’s ability to resist infectious diseases.

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3. Seven hours of sleep is a pre-requisite for better immunity
Studies have found that a sleep-deprived immune system does not work very well. A study conducted by a team from the University of Tubingen in Germany found that a good night’s sleep can boost the effectiveness of specialized immune cells called T cells.

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4. If you want better immunity then consume alcohol in moderation
Scientists have found that people who are prone to overuse of alcohol are more susceptible to respiratory illnesses and pneumonia. A study published in the journal Alcohol Research found that alcohol disrupts immune pathways in complex and seemingly paradoxical ways. These disruptions can impair the body’s ability to defend against infection.

5. Proper diet is an unsaid key to boost immunity
Foods that are known to boost immunity include ginger, citrus, turmeric among others. Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which increases the production of white blood cells and builds up the immune system.

Similarly, broccoli is packed with vitamins A, C, and E as well as antioxidants and fiber, all of which boosts immunity. Also, garlic too has immune-boosting properties thanks to allicin.

Foods like spinach, almonds, green tea, papaya, and kiwi too help boost the immune system.

Adopt these healthy ways and get geared up to fight back coronavirus.