If there is one thing we wish for in life, it’s good health. Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are or what kind of lifestyle you lead, illnesses and viruses can strike when you least expect them. While a cold and flu happens to the best of us, other illnesses can wipe you off your feet and cause you to take time off work.
During an illness, your immune system can go through a lot. Once you’re out the other side and begin recovering, there are certain things you should do to strengthen your immune system and get you back to your old self. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some simple tactics you can try out today.
Get Enough Sleep
There’s a close tie between immunity and sleep. In fact, poor sleep can increase your chances of getting sick. When it comes to supporting your immune system, your body needs plenty of shuteye each night. This provides a chance for your body to repair itself and get you back on track. As you navigate through your recovery, give yourself time to sleep, sleep, and sleep some more!
If you’re in pain and discomfort, getting to sleep can be particularly challenging. To aid sleep and keep you snoozing throughout the whole night, there are some things that can help. These include changing your sleep position, using an extra pillow to prop yourself up, and taking slow, deep breaths.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
During your healing process, you may want to gorge on comfort food to keep you going. However, doing so may slow down your recovery. Some people may lose their appetite while they rest and recover too. If this sounds like you, there are products like SUSTAGEN Optimum that are designed for this exact purpose. Their specialized nutritional drinks can bridge gaps when dietary intake is inadequate, such as while recovering from an illness.
If you are feeling up to eating, try and pack your plate with lots of protein. This will not only keep you feeling fuller for longer but support you on your journey to good health. Foods that can help you recover from illness include beans, eggs, spinach, and lean meats.
Minimize Stress
When an illness comes on quickly and wipes you out, stress levels can easily rise. If you’ve had to take time off work or even give up your job altogether, worries about how you’re going to pay the bills, put food on the table, and keep yourself afloat can become overwhelming. However, when recovering from an illness, too much stress can negatively impact your immune system. High stress can raise your cortisol levels. Over time, this can weaken your immune system.
To speed up the recovery process, minimizing stress is key. You can achieve lower stress by performing yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. No one can say exactly how long it’s going to take to get better, and while this can bring uncertainty and stress, trying out methods for reducing stress and anxiety can be hugely beneficial as you recover.
Keep Hydrated
Water plays a critical role in your body, such as supporting your immune system. When recovering from an illness, it’s vital that you keep track of how many fluids you’re drinking. If you’re not having a good day, you may struggle to keep hydrated. Dehydration can cause all kinds of problems, such as slowing down the movement of lymph (fluid in your circulatory system). This carries crucial infection-fighting immune cells around the body, and water makes up most of it. If you become dehydrated, this can lead to an impaired immune system.
There are ways you can increase your fluid intake. These include setting daily goals, reminders, and replacing other drinks with water. Besides water and other fluids, you have an opportunity to try to hydrate yourself with IV fluids. IV fluids are a way to hydrate quickly and effectively when you are fully dehydrated, they are good for people who are sick or for hangovers or just to take the daily needed vitamins and minerals for your body. Nowadays if you want to take them from your home it is more advisable to try location-based treatments. For instance, if you live in Arizona, you can try IV hydration therapy in Scottsdale, which is one of the short-time treatments that help you recover and boost your immune system.
When you’re hydrated, this helps your body naturally get rid of bacteria and toxins that could otherwise cause further illness.
Keep Moving
Throughout the healing process, you may want to stay in bed or on the couch to rest. While you will need some time taking things easy, the quicker you get up and moving, the better – especially for your immune system.
Exercise may enhance immune function by improving overall circulation. This makes it easier for immune cells to travel throughout your body. You don’t have to be hitting the gym either. Going for walks can be an excellent way to get active and improve your health. It’s wise to speak to your doctor first before partaking in any form of exercise.
Recovering from an illness won’t happen overnight. You need to give yourself plenty of time, rest, and relaxation to get back on your feet. The road to recovery starts by paying attention to your immune system and doing all the above to help strengthen it and get back to good health.
