This quarantine has everyone a little stir crazy. We are getting advice on how to stay protected by wearing a mask, gloves, a shield…. etc. But no one is taking notice to what actually helps boost your immune system on a daily basis and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise: It is proven that exercise helps boost the immune system. Although we are told to stay home, that doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh air. Walking, hiking, fishing, playing golf, the list goes on. You must keep your body moving, remember move well and then move often. Healthy body, healthy mind.
Nutrition: We can’t stress this enough, you are what you eat. You can’t out train a bad diet. Eating foods that fuel the body not harm it. You would’t drive across country on an empty gas tank, would you? Get colorful foods in your diet, healthy/positive eating habits, mindfulness while eating, drinking lots of water, what are you actually feeding your body? Keep it simple stupid. This includes supplements and vitamins, we always recommend our clients to get vitamin testing to see if there are any deficiencies. Studies have shown that most individuals lack vitamin d and magnesium. Two of the most important nutrients and minerals to help boost the immune system and keep the body functioning optimally.
Sleep: This is huge, your mind and body NEED sleep. If you are not entering specific cycles while sleeping, recovery takes a toll. A good way to indicate how well you sleep would be to track your sleep cycles to see if there are any patterns, check your resting heart rate in the morning (you don’t want this high), keep a journal and track to see if there are any patterns that could be disrupting your sleep (maybe eating to late, watching tv or something stressful before bed). Have a sleep routine, this will help immensely.
Stress: Stress can kill, I know we live in a fast paced world and with the circumstances of life right now, tensions can be high. However, stress can lead to chronic illness and make things a whole lot worse. We urge all of our clients/athletes to indicate where the stress is coming from, what is the root cause? Then how can we help. Well, we know some things that can manage that: mediation, breathing exercises, yoga, walking, hiking, exercise, cooking, travel, family time, maybe even getting some alone time at your favorite outdoor spot. There are endless ways to minimize stress in a healthy way.
Mindset: We have found that positive self talk and confidence plays a key role into heighten immune system and just feeling good daily. Negative thoughts eat away at your brain and cause a chain reaction of, you guessed it…STRESS. It starts here and mindset, if you have negative thoughts on a daily basis that will increase stress, which negatively affects sleep, which affects healthy eating habits and exercise. There are a ton of ways to help set a positive mindset, they even have apps for that (Calm, Headspace), talk to a professional, gratitude journal, or create a morning routine to start your day off on a good note. You will feel like a new person.
Notice how one of these variables causes a chain reaction. If one of these is off, it can cause distress on the mind and body, which directly affects the immune system. Let’s be smart about the way we approach a healthy lifestyle, again keep it simple. Yes, hard work is involved but stick to it, remember it’s about the journey, the destination is worth it. Take this information and work on one thing at a time.
We are here for you all, we know that a healthy positive lifestyle pays off in the end.