Natural Ways to Boost your Immune System

Do you find yourself getting sick more and more often? When you age, your immune system can get weaker, making you more vulnerable to infections. At Brickmont, we take precautions to make sure seniors like you know how to protect their bodies as best as they can from getting sick.  We all know to wash our hands frequently, get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water, but are there other ways to protect our immune systems naturally?

Walk Daily

When you exercise, it can boost your immune system and help your body flush out nasty toxins. However, you do not need to go crazy in the gym; research shows that light to moderate exercise daily can reduce your chance of catching a cold by one third. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, exercising has an inverse effect on your chances of getting an upper respiratory infection.

You also get a second benefit for keeping your body healthy when you go outside for a walk. Your body absorbs vitamin D naturally from sunshine, and this process can boost your immune system. When sunrays hit your bare skin, it is the most natural way to get the vitamin D your body needs. This process does not take long and does not require you to spend too much time out in the sun. Just 15 minutes can be beneficial!

Oh, Honey

Honey has natural antibacterial properties and can be very beneficial when you're fighting off the flu or a cold. It also targets your digestive system with antioxidants that help your body fight some things, such as cognitive decline. Honey can help boost energy, help manage a healthy weight, and counter pollen allergies. It has also been claimed that honey can help prevent cancer with its anti-tumor and carcinogen-preventing properties. 

Turmeric

Spices have been known to boost immune systems, but did you know turmeric is one of the most potent anti-inflammatory spices of all? For centuries, South Asian cultures have used turmeric and curcumin as natural medicines. Some doctors believe that turmeric can help fight cancer and reduce your risk of dementia, but little research has supported this claim. You should definitely consider adding this spice to your next dish or side dish! 

Go with Garlic

If you have ever seen a scary vampire movie, you know garlic can ward off blood-thirsty vampires, but it can also ward off blood infection, diseases and more! Some movie critics believe the idea of vampires and garlic is actually a metaphor for garlic’s powerful antimicrobial properties. This means it can kill harmful bacteria and boost your immune system naturally! One of the most amazing traits of garlic is that, unlike medically fabricated antibiotics, bacteria do not grow a resistance to garlic’s ability to kill bacteria. Garlic is also delicious and fairly common in the grocery store.

There are a lot of natural ways to strengthen your immune system! Try to walk outside when weather permits, and implement honey, turmeric, and garlic more into your diet. Do these things in addition to washing your hands often, getting plenty of sleep and drinking plenty of water. Brickmont wants you to stay healthy, and we want to help you get there.

Learn how Brickmont can help you and schedule a tour today!