Immunity, it’s the trending topic that everyone is talking about at the moment. We all want a strong immune system and we all want to be healthy. But what really is an immune system and how can we keep it strong? Read on and hopefully we can help you out.
What is an immune system?
To put it simply, your immune system is made up of organs, cells and chemicals. Parts of your immune system include; white blood cells, lymphatic system, bone marrow, antibodies, spleen and more all working actively help your body fight off infections.
The cool thing about our immune system is that, unlike your great uncle Earl, it has a pretty good memory. Because of this, when a germ we’ve already fought off comes back, more often than not our body knows exactly how to get rid of it before it makes us feel unwell.
There are some cases, however, where this may not be the case and your body needs to fight something off more than once. This includes the flu and common cold. Why? Well, the common cold and flu have many different strains of the same type of virus which means unfortunately, that fighting one, doesn’t guard you against them all.
So how do you keep your immune system strong?
The best way to keep your immune system strong is with immunisations as they are the most effective preventative measure against serious diseases. Some vaccines offer lifelong immunity whilst in other cases booster shots may be needed.
Other important ways of supporting our immune system consist of a healthy diet as well as regular exercise.
Diet
Similar to our bodies needing the right foods to perform at our best throughout the day, we can also support our immune health by providing it with the right micronutrients.
Here’s a few micronutrients that you can incorporate into your diet to help maintain a healthy immune system.
- Vitamin C - Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C can be found in many fruits and vegetables such as oranges, blackcurrants, berries, broccoli and more.
- Zinc - Commonly found in foods such as meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, nuts and dairy, Zinc is beneficial for metabolising nutrients and supporting a healthy immune system.
- B Vitamins - B vitamins are made up of eight different vitamins – creating B complex. These B vitamins can be found in foods such as salmon, leafy greens, milk and eggs.
- Magnesium - Magnesium is important for a whole lot, including your muscle health, nerves and bones. In addition to this it’s also great for supporting a healthy immune system. Magnesium can be found in foods such as legumes, whole wheats and seeds.
If you’re struggling to get these vitamins and minerals into your diet naturally, VÖOST offer all of them in their effervescent range to help support your nutrition / dietary balance.*
Exercise
Similar to healthy eating, regular exercise can help maintain a healthy lifestyle and in turn can contribute to a healthy immune system.
We’re not saying you need to go out there and start training to be the next Olympian either. Instead, we’re encouraging you to participate in moderate, regular exercise.
For adults between the age of 18-24, it is recommended that you exercise, even just a little, every day of the week.
You should aim to achieve 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of aerobic exercise a week. In addition to this, it is recommended that you do strength training at least two times a week.
If you’re after some exercise inspiration, check out these fuss-free workouts on our blog:
- Three 10-minute workouts for when you don’t have the time
- The 7-minute workout you can do anywhere
- Workout with a friend: 5 moves to motivate you
With all of this new knowledge on immunity, hopefully we can have your immune system fighting stronger than ever!
*ALWAYS READ THE LABEL. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST, TALK TO YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ADULTS ONLY. VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD NOT REPLACE A BALANCED DIET.