During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important for your immune system to stay healthy. One of the best ways to keep your immune system healthy is to maintain a nutritious diet.
- Vitamin A
This helps with the health of your respiratory system and intestines. Foods that are rich in vitamin A include sweet potato, carrots, red bell peppers, and broccoli.
- Vitamin C
This helps stimulate the formation of antibodies. Strawberries, citrus fruits, kiwi, and red bell pepper are all vitamin C- rich foods.
- Vitamin E
This nutrient stimulates the removal of free radicals by working as an antioxidant. Foods that are rich in vitamin E include nuts, vegetable oils, avocado, and seeds.
- Zinc
There are lots of zinc-dependent enzymes in our body. Also, deficiency has been linked with immune dysfunction. Foods that are rich in zinc are seeds, beans, meat, nuts, seafood, and poultry.
- Protein
Specific amino acids found in protein are essential for T-cell function. These protect the body against pathogens. Seafood, poultry, meats, seeds, nuts, eggs, and beans all have lots of protein.
The nutrients above show that it helps your immune system work most effectively. Eat these nutrients in moderation and don’t go overboard because too much of a good thing can be harmful.
The Importance Of Making Your Immune System Healthy
Your immune system is a complicated system of cells, organs, and tissues. These bands together defend your body against foreign invaders like viruses, germs, and bacteria. Having a healthy immune system will protect you by making a blockade that stops those invaders from entering your body. If there happened to be that one has slipped by, it starts to make certain chemicals and white blood cells that destroy these foreign substances. If your immune system cannot get rid of the invader before it starts to reproduce, it simply accelerates, even more, to destroy the invaders as they grow. In addition to blood cells and chemicals that physically attack germs, lungs, skin, saliva, digestive tract, and tears are also involved in the immune response. That’s why washing your hands and not touching your face are so important.
Other healthy lifestyle habits you may try to support a healthy immune system:
- Sleep
It is good for everything. While you are asleep, the stress hormones dip. It is important because these hormones reduce your immune response. A good night’s sleep boosts the effectiveness of specialized immune cells. It is called T-cells which are in charge of activating the proteins that attach to and distinguishing foreign invaders and kill them.
- Exercise
Anything that gets your heart pumping helps. Your immune system reacts almost instantly to exercise. Exercise moderately because exhaustive training or very high-intensity workloads are accompanying by a drop in immunity.
Above all else, a positive mindset is equally important. According to research, a positive thought lessens stress and inflammation and increases resilience to infection. Negative emotions can make you more susceptible to the common cold and flu. It is important to try to keep it in mind that as we face the many unknowns of the pandemic and deal with its frustrations,
