Everyone knows that there is no cure for the common cold, but can it be prevented? Can we actually get immune support from lifestyle changes, common practices and exercise that will ward off frustrating and sometimes life-threatening illness? New research is showing that this may actually be possible—and that it is already working wonders for many. 1. Lifestyle Changes Smoking causes lung cancer, amounts more than moderate alcohol use can cause heart and liver disease and drug abuse of any kind can do irreversible damage to the brain and other bodily organs. Changing the way we think about these habits—throwing out the cigarettes, seeking help for drug addiction and replacing the six-pack of beer we consume while watching the Superbowl with a glass (or two) of red wine—can provide immune support and lessen the risk of contracting certain diseases. 2. Common Practices Prevention is about more than giving up dirty habits; it is also about making changes to ensure that we rid our bodies of dangerous germs whenever we have the chance. First of all, washing our hands after using the restroom, before eating, before and after smoking—which we should stop doing, anyway—and any other time in which we come into contact with a foreign substance can work alongside immune support systems by reducing the number of viruses and bacteria that are introduced into our bloodstreams. Other things we can do include drinking plenty of water, avoiding fatty foods and getting plenty of sleep. 3. Exercise Many of us—in fact, a good percentage of us—suffer from health conditions that are related to being overweight or even obese. As a result, we should put down the television remote, trade in the video game system controllers for some light weights and start actually moving. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day such as walking the dog or simply doing sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks in our living rooms can provide fantastic immune support and help us lose those unwanted pounds. 4. Better Nutrition Living a busy life often drives us to seek not-so-nutritious food choices from fast food restaurants and even grocery stores. While it may be a piece of cake to pop a plateful of pizza rolls into the microwave, these nifty little treats are packed with empty calories and fat that will pack your saddlebags whether you’re ready for it or not. Eating leafy greens, nuts, lentils, fish, beans and other colorful fruits and vegetables is the best option, but nobody’s perfect. Save one day a week to indulge in your favorite sweet treats and fatty, fried foods in moderation. This way, you won’t feel as if you’ve given up everything. 5. Use Supplements Many of us rely on daily supplements such as multivitamins, fish oil and others to keep us healthy and illness-free. While it is true that one or more of these products may be a proven immune booster, they don’t work very well if we don’t keep ourselves as healthy as possible from the start. For example, we can’t eat a 22-ounce porterhouse steak and then take a fish oil capsule hoping that the healthy fats will counteract the vicious saturated fats in red meat. If we are making changes for a healthier body to improve immune system function, then these products can go a long way to help. Remember that they are supplements — not ways to cover up poor nutrition and bad decisions about our health. Tips From A Few Experts They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but in all actuality, it takes much more than a simple apple to stave off illness and provide immune support. We need to change the way we think, eat and even exercise in order to get the best prevention possible.
