Your immune system is very important to your health.
A strong immune system can prevent you from developing many diseases.
When your immune system is compromised you become more susceptible to illness.
There are many ways you may be harming your immunity.
You can follow many simple guidelines to keep your immunity in top shape.
Food Choices: The foods you choose to eat can have a tremendous impact on your immune system.
There are several types of food that you should avoid or definitely limit your consumption of.
Sugar: Eating too much sugar can spike insulin levels.
It also can affect your body's ability to absorb nutrients, particularly vitamin C.
Eat sugary snacks in moderation or special occasions.
Stevia is a wonderful, natural sugar that you can use in place of regular sugar.
Protein: We need protein for our health.
You should eat lean proteins such as chicken, turkey and fish.
Avoid fatty beef and pork.
If you do consume them eat the white meat pork and leaner cuts of beef.
Too much protein will be stored as fat in the body.
Over time this can weaken your immunity.
Poor Nutrition: Many people live a fast paced lifestyle and eat their food on the run throughout the day.
Often grabbing fast food for breakfast and lunch, this way of eating will not give your body the complete nutrition that it requires for optimal health.
Take the time to plan out your meals for the week.
You can learn to make quick and nutritious meals and avoid the fast food trap.
For example, a simple and easy breakfast can be a plain yogurt with fruit and granola.
Lunch can be a premade salad with lean protein such as turkey or chicken added in.
Easy snacks to carry with you include nuts and fresh and dried fruit.
Dinner can be a simple and easy to make grilled fish with sautéed vegetables.
You will begin to feel healthier if you incorporate more nutrition in your diet.
Fast food and processed products will wreak havoc on your health if you continue on this path for too long.
It will rob you of your energy and cause weight gain.
Bad Fats: There are good and bad fats.
Good fats that you want to eat are Omega-3 fatty acids.
These can be found in fresh seafood such as tuna and salmon.
Enjoy olive oil on your vegetables, salads and rice dishes as this oil is also very healthy to consume.
You want to avoid the bad fats which include those found in fatty cuts of beef and pork.
Too much bad fat can potentially lead to toxic buildup in the body, including the digestive system and weaken your immunity.
Alcohol: Limit your alcohol consumption.
Excess alcohol consumption can lead to a weaker immune system as it can suppress white blood cells.
Smoking: This goes without saying; smoking will wreak havoc on your health and your immunity.
If you are a smoker you should see your medical doctor.
He or she will be able to assist you in finding ways to quit this unhealthy habit.
Water: You need plenty of fresh clean water on a daily basis.
Most people do not drink enough water.
Water helps flush your body of toxins helping your immune system to not have to work as hard.
Try to limit your intake of sugary soda and fruit juices high in sugar.
Sleep: Getting enough sleep nightly can have a big impact on your overall health.
When you sleep your body is in a process of regenerating.
When you do not get enough sleep your body cannot repair itself properly and therefore your immune system may suffer.
Stress: Stress has deleterious effects on the human body.
Continued prolonged stress will deplete your energy and harm your immunity.
We must all deal with stress but it is important to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices to reduce your stress levels as much as possible.
Lack of exercise: Being sedentary can also weaken immunity.
The human body is meant to be physically active.
Moderate, consistent exercise is very healthy.
You need to find exercise activities that interest you and that you can make a reasonable commitment to stick with.
Aging and Immunity: As we age our bodies naturally decline and of course this includes the immune system.
You need to strive to lead as healthy of a lifestyle as you can to compensate for this natural aging process.
Aging can also lead to a higher probability of injuries to areas like the knees and hips.
If you injure yourself you place stress on your immune system.
This is where a good exercise program can help to keep you limber and strong as you age.
Remember whenever beginning any dietary or lifestyle changes, always consult with a medical professional, particularly if you are taking prescription drugs or suffer from any disease or ailment.