5 Easy ways to boost your immune system
Photo Credit: Allef Vinicius
Vitality and good immunity is the natural result of living a well-balanced life; mind, body and soul, in alignment with the natural cycles of nature.
During adverse times it is more important than ever to manage stress in order to remain calm, centred and balanced, as good immunity is based on this very principle of balance. There is no surprise that in times such as these, more and more people are turning to more holistic wisdom and natural remedies that balance one’s energy through right thinking, lifestyle, diet, self-care and the use of herbs.
Immunity is directly connected to the health of the gut where a strong, well balanced digestive system is paramount to good health and a strong immune system. Too much digestive fire can show up as dehydration, irritability, acidic stomach and inflammation whereas too little digestive fire can show up as an inability to absorb nutrients properly, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence.
When one’s digestive fire is well balanced, ‘…it gives immunity, a sparkle in the eyes and lustre to the skin.’ (Sebastian Pole, 2013)
So how does one go about balancing the digestive system, optimising digestive fire and boosting the immune system? We have a few simple yet highly effective ways to easily realign and balance one’s system for optimal health
- Drink warm water and lemon
This simple age old morning ritual is a great way to stimulate the digestive system. Warm lemon water in the morning promotes digestion, alkalises the system, removes an excess of toxins and is high in Vitamin C. Try having a cup first thing upon waking. Ideally this should be the very first thing you put into your body.
- Oil pulling and tongue scraping
A build-up of toxins in the system can lead to poor digestion and an imbalance in the digestive fire. To remove toxins, one can use oil pulling and tongue scraping. Oil pulling is a traditional practise which involves swishing a tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil in your mouth for approximately 15 minutes before spitting it out. A tongue scraper is an easily found tool which scrapes the toxin off the back and top of the tongue and is highly beneficial if done regularly.
Photo Credit: Sabine Thissen
- Meditation
Meditation has been widely shown to reduce stress and balance the mind, body and soul. Our thoughts and emotions, as well as the way in which we nurture ourselves all impact the digestion and affect our ability to assimilate not only food, but life in general! Meditation has been shown to calm and optimise the body’s system on all levels so as to balance gut health and strengthen the immune system.
4. Eat a well-balanced diet
Where possible choose a whole food vegetarian diet and cook with immune boosting natural oils such as organic olive oil, coconut oil or ghee. Choose easily digestible fresh foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and dairy, if you are not lactose intolerant. Lightly cooked food is easier to digest, and choose organic produce to avoid pesticides. Turmeric, cumin, ginger and black pepper are renowned immune boosting spices, so add these in your cooking where possible. As best you can avoid all processed, canned and pre-packaged food!
- Eat mindfully
Slow down, engage your senses and savour the experience of eating your meal. Bring your full awareness to the moment as this helps to prepare your body to receive the meal. The mind has a powerful way to activate the digestive system in preparation for digestion.
‘We are not what we eat, but we are what we digest. By making choices that strengthen our digestive ability, we form the foundation for good health and vitality.’ (Dr. Sheila Patel, M.D., 2019)
Aside from these highly effective yet simple approaches to vitality, adding natural herbs to one’s diet can hugely benefit and support immunity. We have created the perfect blend of Ayurvedic and European herbs to help support immunity and promote natural body defence for you and your family. Composed of carefully sourced and clinically tested herbs such as Andrographis AP-Bio, Black Elderberry, Black Pepper, Echinacea and Ginger, our Avalife IMMUNE SUPPORT will be sure to give your immunity the extra boost and balance it requires!
For the ultimate immune boosting support combine our Avalife IMMUNE SUPPORT with our Avalife VITA C.Vitamin C is the ‘go to’ natural immune booster in the wellness industry. This powerhouse vitamin provides antioxidant support, increases energy and fights chronic disease. For more information on these products,please read more on our product link.
References
Lad, V. (2006), ‘Ayurveda: a brief introduction and guide,’ The Ayurvedic Institute. Available athttps://www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide (accessed: 11 January 2021).
Pole, S. (2013), ‘The Digestive Fire,’ Banyan Botanicals, 19 September. Available athttps://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-banyan-vine/details/the-digestive-fire/ (accessed: 11 January 2021).
Patel, S. (2019), ‘Learn How to Improve Your Digestion With 6 Ayurvedic Practices,’ Chopra, 7 August. Available athttps://chopra.com/articles/learn-how-to-improve-your-digestion-with-6-ayurvedic-practices (accessed 11 January 2021)
Mischke, M. (2020), ‘The Importance of Healthy Digestion,’ Banyan Botanicals. Available at https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/health-guides/understanding-agni (accessed 11 January 2021)
Bennet, A. (2020), ‘Boost Your Immune System with Ayurveda,’ The Art of Living Retreat Centre, 18 March. Available at https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/boost-your-immune-system-with-ayurveda (accessed 11 January 2021)
Shunya, A. (2017), ‘8 Ayurvedic Self-Care Rituals That Promote Radiant Health,’ mindbodygreen, May 11. Available at https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-28544/8-ayurvedic-selfcare-rituals-that-promote-radiant-health.html (accessed 11 January 2021)
Image from https://www.thekitchn.com/5-useful-things-to-know-about-fresh-ginger-228200?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=tracking&utm_campaign=inline-img-share. KELLI FOSTER published FEB 20, 2016
