How Your Lifestyle Affects Your Immunity

Your lifestyle affects your immunity, so replace those bad habits with the good ones that will boost your immune system to peak performance!

Your lifestyle has a huge impact on how well your immune system protects you from germs, viruses, and chronic illness. Replacing bad habits with healthy new ones can help keep your immune system kicking serious ass. Here are some good life habits that many of us overlook. I can definitely relate to a few of these . . . Can you?

Not Slacking on Good Sleep

You may have noticed you’re more likely to catch a cold or other infection when you’re not getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can also lead to higher levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Although researchers aren’t exactly sure how sleep boosts the immune system, it’s clear that getting enough sleep—between seven and nine hours—is key for lifelong good health.

Exercising Daily is Essential

Try to get regular, moderate exercise, even a daily 30-minute walk. It can help your immune system fight infection. Exercise can also boost your body’s feel-good chemicals, reduce your stress hormones, and help you sleep better, all of which your immune system loves.

Reduce Your Stress or Face the Mess

Everyone experiences stress in life. The key is how you respond to it. If stress continues for long periods unabated, it makes you much more vulnerable to illness, from colds to serious diseases. Chronic stress exposes your body to a steady stream of stress hormones that suppress your immune system and deplete your body of essential vitamins and minerals. I recommend meditation, at least 15 minutes a day to start. Turn off your cell phone, eliminate all distractions, find a calm place in the house, and just be still in a comfortable position.

Maintain Strong Personal Relationships

Connecting with other people is a wonderful way to reduce stress and eliminate feelings of isolation. Strong relationships and a supportive social network are good for you (and I don’t just mean on Facebook). Although there are many other things that affect your health, making meaningful connections with people is always a good idea.

Lighten Up and Laugh More

Laughing is really good for you. It curbs the levels of stress hormones in your body and boosts white blood cells that help to fight infection. Just anticipating a funny event can have a positive effect on your immune system.

From eating the right foods to reducing your stress to getting your gut healthy—there are so many ways to give your immune system a boost. One thing’s for sure: it needs your support to kick some ass. When you empower your body’s front line of defense with the right ammo to ward off the yucky stuff, you’ll have a much better chance of rockin’ to a ripe old age with serious spunk and vigor. So, start eating clean, remember to laugh a lot, let go of negative emotional baggage, surround yourself with positive peeps, get your gut health going strong, and baby, you can kiss all those sick days goodbye!

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