Every minute counts, so boost your immune system in 24 hours with these tips.
Coughs, sneezes, sore throats, it must be cold and flue season. Fend off germs by boosting your immune system to stay cold and flu-free this time.
1 minute to take a supplement
After reviewing 14 separate clinical trials, researchers found that echinacea may cut the chances of catching a cold by 58 per cent and they also discovered that taking the herbal supplement may help reduce the duration of the sniffles by almost two days.
Echinacea has powerful cold prevention and cold treatment benefits. However, there are a lot of echinacea products on the market, containing different extracts and amounts, so opt for a reputable brand.
3 minutes to boost your antioxidant levels
Put the kettle on. Tea is rich source of antioxidant, and the group of compounds called flavonoids is why we reap a host of benefits. It doesn't matter if you prefer the taste of green, white or black teas, all have antioxidants that protect the body from free-radical damage and boost immunity. Steep your tea bag for two to three minutes, and remember that a longer brewing time will give you a greater concentration of antioxidants.
5 minutes to boost your good bacteria
People who eat a cup of yogurt a day are 25 per cent less likely to develop a cold than non-yogurt eaters. The live active cultures, friendly bacteria, in yogurt are thought to stimulate the immune system and help the body fight some cold viruses. So if you dairy consumption is restricted to milk and cheese, here's a reason to expand it.
15 minutes to relax and kick back
Stressed people have greater symptoms of respiratory illness and produce more mucus when exposed to the flu virus. So, meditate and you'll self-medicate because meditation not only helps us get rid of unwanted symptoms of stress, it creates positive body-mind states. We suggests setting aside 10 to 15 minutes a day when you're likely not to be distracted.
45 minutes to get sweaty
Going for a brisk walk for 35 to 45 minutes, five days a week may halve the duration of colds and cold symptoms. Working up a sweat may help activate disease fighting white blood cells that protect the body from bacteria and viral infections. Physical activity has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, according to the researcher.
8 hours to get a healthy dose of zzzs
The researcher found that after being exposed to a flu vaccine, sleep-deprived participants had half the virus-destroying antibodies of a well-rested group. Adults need eight hours sleep, and children need at least 10 hours.
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