What is really useful for your immune system?

Due to the current situation, we should stay at home as much as possible this week to protect those who need it most.

Take this opportunity to rethink your health. What have you always wanted to change? What have you "never had time" for?

You now have the unique opportunity to break out of your routine and reorganize your life and your health.

What routines can you break from home? We have compiled the most important questions for you, which we will answer for you over the next few days.

TODAY'S QUESTION: "What routine is your immune system suffering from?"

It's high time to mobilize your immune system! Unfortunately, we have developed some routines that are not really good for our immune system. 

What can you do at home to strengthen your immune system and protect yourself against viruses? 

1. change your habits

Rethink your routines and start strengthening your immune system! Habits are basically not a bad thing. They just need to be steered in the right direction from time to time. Take more care of your health and mental well-being. And take more time for yourself again. Now you have the opportunity to develop me-time routines and do something good for yourself.

➤ Tip: Start the day with a new morning routine, for example. We have a real immune booster drink for you! Peel one organic lemon and one organic ginger, put the ingredients in a blender with water and then pass through a sieve. This is great for your immune system and doesn't involve much extra effort.

2. reduce stress and let go

Stress is one of the enemies of a strong immune system. This is because stress reduces immune function and makes us more susceptible to illness. Use the time and start new habits to reduce stress.

➤ Tip: How about 10 minutes of daily meditation before going to bed, for example? This will help you to release stress and sleep better. Imagine the flame of a candle and concentrate on it. Pay attention to your breathing and get into a comfortable position. 

➤ Tip: Ignore your cell phone in the morning and don't try to read your messages straight away. Have breakfast in peace first. Because the cell phone often means unwanted stress.

3. the right nutrients as a protective shield

Do you know the most important nutrients to support your immune system? The first thing that comes to mind is probably vitamin C. But there are many more nutrients that specifically support you in strengthening your immune system.

• Vitamin D: Experts agree that vitamin D is essential for a well-functioning immune system. A deficiency leads to a higher susceptibility to infections, which is particularly fatal in winter during flu and coronavirus times.
• Zinc: the nutrient has an antiviral effect, which means that zinc supports you in the fight against any viruses. Together with vitamin C, you strengthen your immune system in the long term and increase the number of your immune cells - viruses don't stand a chance.
• Probiotics: Did you know that 80% of your immune system is located in your gut? Studies show that taking probiotics supports your immune system and leads to a reduction in symptoms of illness such as fever, cough and runny nose.
• Vitamin Booster Plus: A balanced diet is important. But only very few of us manage to do this regularly. It's good that the most important nutrients and vitamins are combined in a vital substance concentrate. Provide your body now with the most important fruit, vegetable and berry concentrates as well as herbal and plant extracts.

➤ Tip: Get into the habit of drinking a glass of water with probiotics as soon as you get up. Because before breakfast is the best time for this.

4. live a good hygiene

General hygiene should actually be a matter of course. But we all know that washing your hands is usually very quick and a cough is probably not contagious. But especially in times of a pandemic, it is extremely important to take extra care with hygiene. 

➤ Tip: Get into the habit of washing your hands with soap for 30 seconds. Count to 30 or hum a song.

➤ Tip: If you have a cough, cough into the crook of your arm and take tissues with you so that you always have them to hand. For example, equip each of your bags with a pack of tissues.

Conclusion:

If you start changing your habits now, you will be able to implement them in the future.

If everyone acts like you, then viruses, bacteria and the like don't stand a chance!

➤ Final tip: If you do not belong to the risk group, offer help to those people who need it. Otherwise, stay at home as much as possible and help to contain the pandemic.

 

Sources (in English):

Van Straten, M. & Josling, P. (2002, May-June). Preventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Advances in Therapy, 19(3):151-9 

Gorton, H. C. & Jarvis, K. (1999, October). The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 22(8):530-3

Hintzpeter, B., Mensink, G. B., Theirfelder, W., Müller, M. J. & Scheidt-Nave, C. (2008, September). Vitamin D status and health correlates among German adults. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62(9):1079-89, doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602825

Prasad, A. S. (2008, May-June). Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Molecular Medicine, 14(5-6):353-7, doi: 10.2119/2008-00033.Prasad 

Wintergerst, E. S., Maggini, S. & Hornig, D. H. (2006). Immune-enhancing role of vitamin c and zinc and effect on clinical conditions. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, 50(2):85-94, doi: 10.1159/000090495