How to Boost Immune System Naturally and Fast

The global coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves throughout the world and has forced governments to introduce lockdown measures. 

At the time of writing, there have been 95.6 million reported cases of Covid-19 worldwide. Almost two million people have died. The greater percentage of the population, however, survive. 

Covid-19 has posed a complex question for medical scientists. How can medicine protect vulnerable patients against this deadly virus?

The hard facts determine that the Darwinian moniker, ‘Survival of the Fittest’ is the key to beating coronavirus. The Gut Health Secret says, individuals with a strong immune system will recover from the illness - vaccine-free.

This article looks at five healthy lifestyle habits you can adopt to boost immune system naturally and fast. Coronavirus is not simply going to disappear - and if you don’t like needles, the only way to survive a case of Covid without a vaccine is to power your immune system. 

How to Boost Immune System Naturally and Fast

• What is the Immune System?

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that protect the body from germs, viruses, and other alien invaders that enter the body daily.

When your body identifies foreign elements in the body that shouldn’t be there, your innate immune response kicks into action. White blood cells emit a cocktail of proteins, hormones, and pathogens including cytokines to encourage inflammation. 

Whilst inflamed parts of your body may not look or feel good, it does mean that your body’s natural defenses are working well. It means your immune system is releasing the appropriate responses to tackle the infection and enable recovery. 

However, to function well, the immune system requires balance and harmony. Your body is better equipped to perform effectively when protected and bolstered by healthy-living strategies. 

• Healthy Diet 

The immune system relies on nutrients to help it function properly. Without the right ingredients, the body’s natural defenses are unable to produce antioxidants that protect cells, produce antibodies, or support the growth of immune cells. 

Diets that are high in nutritious fiber, antioxidants, protein, folic acid, zinc, and iron, together with vitamins C, A, E, D, and B-6, have been found to help boost immune system naturally and fast response.

Whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains are laced with healthy nutrients the body needs to build immunity. Yogurts also have special types of fiber and beneficial microbes that support healthy gut bacteria - which are a key contributor to regulating immune homeostasis.

• Maintain a Healthy Weight

It’s common knowledge that obesity increases the risk of infection and disease. Recent studies also indicate that carrying extra weight can impair the immune response. 

Researchers found that the natural defense system of people classified as overweight was weaker than individuals with a healthy weight for their age. 

People in the obese and overweight categories produced less cytokine and had altered monocyte and lymphocyte function. A lower level of functionality in white blood cells and dendritic cell decrease immune response and slow down the healing process. For viruses like Covid, obesity increases the risk of death.

• Spend Time In Nature

 Researchers have found evidence that spending time immersed in nature provides protection against a wide range of illnesses and diseases.

Whilst studies clearly show nature has a positive impact on the body and mind, it is not fully understood why. The most logical answer is that stress levels are lowered when you’re out walking through forests, meadows, and hills, etc. 

However, there is a bigger picture. One researcher, Ming Kuo said, "Nature doesn't just have one or two active ingredients. It's more like a multivitamin that provides us with all sorts of the nutrients we need.”

This is not a revelation discovered by 21st-Century scientists. The health benefits of nature have been well-known in some cultures for thousands of years. In Japan, for example, the practice of shinrin-yoku - forest bathing - is a common past time. 

 The practice involves heightening the five senses to your surroundings. It can be as simple as walking in a natural environment or connecting with nature by actively touching, smelling, listening, and tasting as well as seeing. 

Walking in the great outdoors is a great way to explore the natural world and improve your immune system. For even greater effect, why not interact with the natural environment by playing games, exploring your surroundings, and learning more about the wonders of nature.

• Only Drink Alcohol in Moderation

 Alcohol interferes with your gut microbiome - a crucial part of your stomach that supports the immune system in fighting foreign invaders. 

 A 2015 study published found that heavy drinking - and especially binge drinking - damages immune cells and reduces the number of infection-fighting white blood cells. 

The good news is that moderate drinking habits do not appear to have a negative impact on the body. Safe measures of alcohol - according to the United States Dietary Guidelines 2015-2020, are defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

• Minimize Psychological Stress

Medical practitioners say that chronic stress is responsible for around 90% of illness and disease. When we are stressed, the brain sends signals to the endocrine system to trigger the fight-flight-freeze response. At the same time, it suppresses the immune response. 

Stress decreases the lymphocytes. These white blood cells help to fight off infection. If you are under a significant amount of stress each day, your body is being constantly put at risk of infection. 

The most common causes of stress are fear, failure, deadlines, debt, relationship issues, children, uncertainty, government policies and controls, the economy, an illness in the family, and negative thinking patterns that cause the Nocebo Effect.

Most stress is psychological. Being able to manage stress with self-development tools such as meditation, NLP and emotional intelligence helps to lower the amount of immune inhibiting chemicals in the body.

For most people, the immune system is your first line of defense against coronavirus. As you get older, or your body is already struggling with an illness, your body’s natural immunity weakens. Most covid-related deaths have been among the elderly community or people that had underlying conditions.