With the cooler months fast approaching, we sat down to chat all things immunity boosting with self confessed wellness nerd Tara Hanaphy, the Co-Founder and Director of LeQure Body. Tara is is currently completing her studies to become a Doctor of Eastern Medicine (TCM), and is incredibly passionate about helping people's holistic health from the inside-out.
Tara's top 5 simple tips to boost your natural immunity:
1. REDUCE STRESS
A quick dose of cortisol and adrenaline in a fight or flight response can boost our immunity. This was designed to assist wound repair from when that tiger would have chased you down 10,000 years ago, but research has shown that chronic and long-term stress has the opposite physiological response. Chronic stress will leave you lacking immunity cells, increasing the likelihood falling ill, as well as exacerbating pre-existing conditions.
Try incorporating a daily meditation, yoga or exercise practice into your routine to help reduce your stress.
2. REDUCE INFLAMMATION
We often interpret “inflammation” as the physical manifestation of an injury, take a swollen ankle or a mosquito bite. But have you ever woken up after a big night out and had a puffy face? Aches and pains? Water retention? These can all be signs of systemic inflammation.
Systemic inflammation causes dysregulation of the immune system and increases the risk of disease. To reduce systemic inflammation and boost your immune system, avoid these common inflammatory properties:
- Heavily processed foods
- Refined sugar
- Common allergens including gluten, corn, soy and dairy
- Processed and preserved meats
3. BOOST YOUR INTAKE OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEG
Fresh fruit and veg are imperative to boost immunity; they're nutrient rich, anti-inflammatory and full of fibre to leave your body nourished and cleaned out. Certain vitamins do deserve a notable mention, including Vitamin C. Vitamin C in high doses has been shown to boost immunity and work towards microbial killing of viral cells. Load up on these incredible Vitamin C sources:
- Kakadu plums deliver 5,300 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams
- Rosehips deliver 426 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams
- Blackcurrants deliver 181 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams
- Lemons deliver 77 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams
4. REDUCE THE TOXIC LOAD ON YOUR BODY
Be conscious of what you are consuming, holistically. By this we mean be conscious of not only what you are eating but also what you are thinking, reading, feeling, using in your environment and what you are putting on your body and skin. Your liver and kidneys do a great job of filtering out nasties from your body, but by reducing the toxic load that it has to deal with every day, your body will be better equipped at beating infections.
Avoid BPA plastics, opt for all-natural skincare and body products, be conscious of the chemicals in your cleaning products in your home and try to shop organically, where you can.
5. INCORPORATE MEDICINAL HERBS
Medicinal herbs have been used for centuries to boost immunity, create balance within the body and assist with the symptoms of infection. Hanaphy recommends considering a visit to a local Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner or registered Naturopath to recommendations of medicinal herbs to help boost immunity.
Whether you're incorporating a little yoga flow in the evening, some Vitamin C with your brekkie or committing to all 5 tips and tricks, you're doing great and it all counts towards boosting your immunity and living a healthier happier life!
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