At Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena, we know how important it is to stay healthy and fit – especially during these difficult times where we are all dealing with the effects of COVID-19. Now more than ever, it is vital to take great care of your body and ensure that you are doing everything in your power to maintain a healthy diet and immune system.
So, to help, our urgent care clinic team has prepared a guide on how to boost your immune system and fight colds and other sicknesses.
Follow These Tips to Boost Your Immune System
- Sleep Is Important
Our sleeping habits and cycles have been proven to have an effect on our immune systems. Some people may not realize it, but there are very specific proteins and hormones that are only produced during sleep that help combat diseases and illnesses. While an hour or two may not seem like a lot, any lack of sleep can have consequences on our immune systems and can result in a greater likelihood of getting sick, combined with a lower ability to recover faster.
Trying to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per day should be fine for most people. And even though sleep is important to our overall health, oversleeping has been associated with inflammation and can be harmful to our health.
- Echinacea Is Your Friend
A particular herb that is popular for its overall healing benefits, echinacea is often used to fight colds and to strengthen immune systems. Studies have shown that this herb can lower the chances of catching a cold by almost 60%. On top of that, it can assist the development of certain healthy cells along with fighting inflammation.
You can take echinacea in a variety of methods including pills, liquid doses, powders, and even via tea thanks to dried herbs.
- Garlic
While people have been taking garlic for thousands of years for its many health benefits, it is often overlooked in today’s modern health industry. Garlic contains the sulfuric compound allicin, which is why it is known to help the body battle certain infections (including colds, influenza, and more).
To maximize its health benefits, it is advised to consume it raw since some of its nutritional value can be lost in the body when taken in pill form. According to The World Health Organization (The WHO) consuming one clove of garlic (per day) can help boost your immune system and health.
- Exercise
While daily exercise is important, you don’t need to spend hours on the track on in the gym to keep a healthy immune system. Something as simple as a brisk walk can even boost white blood cells. In general, roughly 90 minutes of moderate exercise three times per week can be enough to keep your immune system strong. In fact, too much intense exercise can have a converse effect on your body and actually weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to sickness.
So, never feel pressured into excruciating workouts every day at a gym or by peers, since more often than not it will not do your body good.
- Green Tea
Green tea, apart from being a delicious hot beverage, can also help combat such things like colds, the flu, and more. Due to its antioxidant nature, this tea offers amazing inflammatory benefits.
Thanks to the way in which green tea is harvested, its natural polyphenols (antioxidant) are protected and kept intact. Daily consumption can improve your overall health as well as fight autoimmune conditions. Some experts believe drinking anywhere from 3-5 cups per day can maximize the antioxidant benefits.
- Your Vegetables Should Be Boiled
While eating vegetables raw is common, you may not be getting the full nutritional value of them. In some cases cooking vegetables can reduce minerals, but in most cases, cooking them can make them healthier. Since heat actually helps breaks down cell walls, your body can actually absorb a higher amount of nutrients when you eat boiled vegetables.
By boiling and steaming your vegetables, you are maximizing the number of nutrients and vitamins they contain, which in turn, strengthens and improves your body’s immune system and health.
- Vitamin C
White blood cells aid the body in defending itself from sickness and illness, so you need to help your body and make sure it can produce enough white blood cells; this is where vitamin C comes in. Citrus fruits are packed with Vitamin C. Having a morning glass of orange or grapefruit juice is a great way to kickstart your immune system in the morning.
Taking a time-released vitamin C tablet is another great source for getting this vitamin and maintaining a healthy immune system.
Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena
While it can be tough to stay healthy with so many distractions and unhealthy options, following the above tips can make a big difference in your overall health and your immune system.
At Advanced Urgent Care of Pasadena, offer a wide range of urgent care and lab and pharmacy services to help serve you. We are also currently providing COVID-19 testing for those who think they may have it. If you wish to avoid coming to our clinic, we also offer telehealth services to Pasadena residents.
To learn more about our urgent care clinic services, please contact our team today.