What can you do to naturally boost your immune system? In this article, we share a few tips!

1. Nutrition for a stronger immune system

The best thing you can do is opt for healthy, varied, high-quality nutrition to fortify your immune system. Ensure that your body receives the right building blocks, including sufficient vitamins and minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Especially focus on fiber-rich vegetables and fruits; we find the rainbow of colors to be an excellent approach! Examples to pay extra attention to: Vitamin C is abundant in many vegetables and fruits, particularly berries, cruciferous vegetables, and citrus fruits. Zinc, selenium, and omega-3 play a central role in the immune system, so consider incorporating extra fatty fish/seafood, grass-fed animal products/dairy, flaxseed, (para)nuts or seeds, green vegetables, mushrooms, and oats into your diet. And, don't forget vitamin D: you can obtain it from fish and eggs, as well as from the sun (or supplements during our fall/winter). Our advice is to choose fresh, natural products that you vary, and to reduce processed foods and refined sugars, so your body is nourished rather than processed :-)

2. Supplementing for optimal nutrients

While the above vitamins and minerals are crucial for your immune system, they can't always be obtained in large quantities from food alone. Therefore, it might be wise to opt for high-quality supplements. Focus, in particular, on vitamin D, vitamin C, Omega-3 (EPA - vegan form is also available in algae oil), zinc, selenium, and magnesium.

3. The importance of adequate sleep for your immune

During your sleep, your body produces more white blood cells to help prevent illness. Additionally, your immune system is most active at night during your sleep to aid in body recovery. Therefore, it's especially important to maintain a healthy sleep routine. Paying attention to your biological clock is essential: it supports a balanced hormone system (such as melatonin production) and reduces stress on your body.

Reducing (chronic) stress for immune health: relaxation!

When you're looking to enhance your immune system, it's even more crucial to bring your body into a state of rest and relaxation. All forms of stress impact our defense system and compromise its effectiveness. Try to identify areas where you can take it easy, set boundaries, and create additional moments of relaxation for yourself. Research suggests that not only lifestyle but also (subconscious) counterproductive thoughts, beliefs, or unprocessed emotions can cause stress that negatively affects the immune system. So, it can be beneficial to invest some time for yourself on this aspect and try out some relaxation exercises. Even writing down expressions of gratitude appears to be linked to improved immunity, so it might be worth a try :-)

Staying hydrated for immune support

Staying adequately hydrated is vital for cell hydration. It facilitates the transport of nutrients and waste products. Opt for water, primarily, and mix it up with tea. Adding ginger provides an immediate source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that shield your body from inflammation. However, when working on your immune system, it's advisable to be a bit cautious with caffeine: caffeine increases the stress hormone cortisol, and more stress lowers your immunity (and if you consume coffee in the afternoon, it might also affect your sleep).

Regular exercise for a robust immune system

Physical activity and strength training can boost the immune system and enhance the body's natural antioxidant system. Sufficient exercise is crucial for optimal health! However, when you're feeling unwell, it's advisable to adjust your training/exercise to avoid overexertion.

Recipe for an 'Immune Booster'

If you'd like to do a little extra for your body, you can also make your own 'immune booster shot.' An optimal combination for this is ginger with turmeric and lemon: vitamin C with a blast of fiber and minerals that not only fortify the immune system but can also combat fatigue and promote healthy blood vessels.

Here's a recipe! Take the following ingredients and blend them in a blender or slow juicer: