Everyone is looking to boost their immune system nowadays, especially during a pandemic, there are a number of things people are trying to do in order to get a stronger immune system.
While there are plenty of ways to boost your immune system like staying away from germ-covered surfaces and getting plenty of rest, there are many lesser-known ways that help.
And they actually do a great job at it too.
6. Scrape your tongue.
If you've ever used a scraper to remove the gunk from your tongue, then you know it can be a little bit icky.
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And yet, this is one habit you might want to adopt — especially during cold season.
Scientists believe that the tongue is part of the first line of defense in your immune system.
Scraping your tongue prevents toxins from being reabsorbed into your body and boosts overall immune function.
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5. Take more cold showers.
According to a study from the Thrombosis Research Institute in England in 1993, individuals who took daily cold showers had more virus-fighting white blood cells in comparison to individuals who preferred their showers steamy.
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Researchers believe that the body’s attempt to heat up increases the metabolic rate and activates the immune system, which then releases more white blood cells.
Vincenz Priessnitz, a german farmer in the 1820s, who coined the term “hydrotherapy,” used cold water to cure everything from broken bones to erectile dysfunction.
He treated dukes, duchesses, counts, countesses and princesses with his cold water therapy.
Just think about the ice baths and cryotherapy athletes use today. Alternating hot and cold is also said to improve lymphatic drainage, which can enhance the immune system's ability to fight illness.
Please note: this one is to prevent getting sick and is not recommended if you’re already under the weather.
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4. Snack on licorice.
Ugh. If you're anything like me, licorice is not one of your favorite snacks.
But licorice’s main active ingredient, glycyrrhizin, has many effects that are useful for supporting the immune system.
Australian Nutrition Centre head practitioner James Jensen says “it blocks the ACE-2 receptor in the airways that some viruses, including COVID-19, use to enter the cells.”
One thing to note is to try to stay away from too much licorice if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
3. Add copper to your wardrobe.
Copper is a necessary trace mineral in the human body that binds with enzymes. Enzymes aid in the creation of hemoglobin, which is vital for healing and repair in the body.
So copper is an essential part of the body’s immune system to work at full capacity. Wearing copper is said to slowly absorb into the tissues and bloodstream, helping build the immune system.
2. Chew your food more.
Most of us are guilty of it, but if you’re not chewing your food properly you could be putting your health at risk.
A specific type of immune cell – the Th17 – can be stimulated in your mouth when you chew, according to a study from the University of Manchester last year.
These cells are useful for protecting against bacterial and fungal infections. Take a look at poor people.
This is a weird tip, but it’s been proven that looking at photos of people coughing, sneezing and generally looking poorly can make your immune system perk up.
1. Change your attitude.
It may seem a little bit hard to do right now, but research shows that summoning up positive feelings about the future will trigger a temporary bump in your immunity.
It can be as simple as planning some fun things to look forward to or doing just one thing a day to keep your spirits up.
