Kirstin’s Top Ten Immunity Boosting Tips

We’ve all learned a lot about immunity in the past years, including that viruses can get us at any time of year, not just ‘cold and flu season.’ That said, the colder, dark months, with indoor gatherings, kids back in school, and busyness overload, can tax our systems and leave us vulnerable to picking up whatever bug is going around.

In addition to hand washing, good ventilation, HEPA filters, and continuing to mask in crowded situations, there’s a lot more we can do to help our bodies dodge illness. Take a look at this list, and pick one or two to focus on this month. To your good health!

1. Sleep. One of the best ways to keep your immune system healthy is to get plenty of rest. During fall and winter, plan to get 30-60 minutes more sleep a night than you typically get the rest of the year.
2. Limit your intake of refined sugars and flours. Eating sugar (white, brown, honey, maple syrup, etc) lowers immune system function for 3-5 hours. This doesn’t mean don’t ever indulge. It does mean considering how you are feeling (strong or vulnerable?) and where you are (around lots of people or at home?) when you do. 
3. Exercise. Moderate exercise is scientifically proven to improve immune function, and is just good, common sense. Our bodies are designed to move. Try to remove the “should” messaging, and enjoy the ways that your body likes to move. 
4. Relax deeply. Stress taxes your immune system; deep relaxation interrupts that process. Meditation, guided visualization, qigong, listening to music, and prayer are just a few ways to relax deeply. Find something that works for you and do it frequently.
5. Laugh! This has to be one of the most enjoyable immune-boosting strategies. Keep a collection of movies on hand that you know are guaranteed to make you laugh, and pull one out if you are feeling at risk of getting sick. Or, join an online Laughter Yoga group: www.laughteryoga.org. Serious fun.
6. Sunshine: get 15 minutes of sunlight (on your skin without sunscreen) a day as often as possible. Free Vitamin D!
7. Don’t touch your face. Washing hands frequently is important, but in between hand washings, train yourself not to touch your face so you avoid transferring the virus someone else left on the doorknob to your nose or mouth.
8. Use a Neti Pot. Using a saline solution to irrigate the sinus passage is a very effective method for keeping viruses from setting up housekeeping. 
9. Skin brushing. Get a long-handled brush with soft, natural bristles. Before showering, brush your whole body from your extremities towards your chest. Invigorating, good for your immune system, and your skin will glow!
10. Stay connected. It makes intuitive sense that positive social connections are good for our health, and studies prove that to be true.