Article written on strengthening the immune system James Simmons founder of Daniels challenge a program to encourage health and well being. The following information he shares as a guide to maintain a stronger Immune system.
With so many contageous viruses and bacterial pathgens to contend with today, it is wise to review and bone-up on what weakens the immune system and how to build and maintain a stronger immune system. Sugar, alcohol, cigarettes, environmental toxins, allergens, obesity, too much exercise, chronic stress, and poor relationships weaken the immune system; and the following strengthen it:
√ Walk Daily: Physical activity strengthens your immune system, muscles, bones, heart, and cardiovascular system. It stimulates the release of endorphins, improves mental function, and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, and stress hormones.
√ Stretch: Daily stretching improves muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance, breathing, blood circulation, mental focus, clarity and calmness; it also promotes good sleep, lower blood pressure and a slower heart rate.
√ Hygiene: To prevent the unnecessary spread of microorganisms that cause infections, wash your hands. It’s even a good idea to carry alcohol-based hand wipes with you for those times you should clean up, but when soap and water are unavailable.
√ Humor: Laughing reduces stress hormones and increases the number and activity of natural killer T-cells, your first line of defense against viral attacks.
√ Music: Listening to certain types of music helps to reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and promotes feelings of tranquility and well being that strengthen the immune system.
√ Sleep: Your immune system does its greatest work while you sleep soundly. Heart disease, stroke, hypertension, depression, and anxiety are each linked to inadequate rest and a weakened immune system. Sleep 7 to 9 plus hours daily, and even more when sick.
√ Optimism: Optimism counteracts stress, tension, and anxiety and boosts your immune system. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and carry optimism in you always.
√ Relaxing Baths: Some soothing music, soft lighting, and bath salts, can help relieve sore muscles and joints, reduce stress and tension, and promote better sleep.
√ Acts of Kindness: Helping others serves to strengthen the immune systems of both giver and receiver. Strengthen yourself by doing quiet acts of kindness daily.
√ Happy Relationships: As our portal to the outside world and as a communication link between every cell and body system, a happy and satisfied central nervous system greatly affects immunity. Always cultivate happy relationships that strengthen you.
√ Immune-Enhancing Foods:
* Water: 2 liters daily
* Veggies: carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, red and green peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and dark leafy greens such as kale, Watercress, turnip, collard, and mustard greens, spinach, and romaine lettuce.
* Fruits: pink and red grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, prunes, red apples, red grapes, bananas, cranberries, tomatoes, mangoes, tangerines, nectarines, peaches, oranges and watermelon.
* Grains: Naturally leavened bread (see video), brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, etc.
* Legumes: all varieties of beans, lentils, and peas.
* Important Fats: ground flax seeds, walnuts, soybeans, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, salmon, mackerel, herring, beef, turkey, oysters, and crab. Limit caloric intake from this group to 10% total per day.
* Other: vitamin D, probiotics, kefir, yogurt, miso, sauerkraut, kimchee, garlic, onion, turmeric, ginger root, astragalus, Echinacea, and shitake and oyster mushrooms.
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