Caring for Your Immune System
By Sara Butler
If you want to obtain optimal health, then you need a healthy immune system to do it! It's important to make the care of your immune system a priority but knowing what to do to accomplish that goal can be a bit confusing. From the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic, here are a few simple steps you can follow to keep your immune system in great shape.
Avoid Sugar
One of the most important things you can do to keep your immune system strong is to avoid refined sugar in your diet. When you eat simple sugars, you're not providing important nutrients your body needs to function at its very best. And refined sugar also takes precious nutrients your body has stored away in order to metabolize the sugar. If these storehouses become diminished, then your immune system can suffer -- making it more challenging to fight off illness.
Go for Probiotics
You probably know that probiotics are good bacteria that help to support a healthier digestive system. What you may not know is that a healthy digestive system is an integral part of a healthy immune system. You can find probiotics in the foods you eat, such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi. You can also take supplements to get more probiotics in your diet.
Reduce Stress
Stress often can't be totally avoided in life, but it's important to ensure that you're keeping the stress you do experience under control. That's because too much stress can weaken the immune system through the release of cortisol, a stress hormone that has been linked to high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Find balance and learn how to handle the stress you are under. Try putting some stress-reducing practices to work in your life, such as yoga, regular exercise, and meditation.
Keep Your Nervous System Healthy
Your central nervous system controls every function of your body. In order for your brain to communicate with the rest of your body via the spinal cord, including the immune system, your body needs to be free of joint restrictions and dysfunctions. You can accomplish that with the help of your chiropractor at The Joint!
Taking care of your immune system is crucial to your overall health and wellness. If you need some help understanding how to get started, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint today.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Des Peres, Mo.