A healthy lifestyle offers many benefits, including the prevention of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases. Another important benefit is that a healthy diet improves your immune system.
The immune system is the body’s way of protecting itself from infection and disease; it fights everything from cold and flu viruses to serious conditions like cancer.
Vaccination, like the flu shot, provides immunity against a number of diseases. Some additional ways to boost your immune system include eating well, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and not smoking.
Eating well means focusing on lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and free or low-fat dairy and dairy products. Eating also means limiting saturated fat, cholesterol, salt and added sugar.
Eating also provides a variety of nutrients that support optimal immune function. 1,2 vitamins, but be aware that too many vitamins and minerals can be harmful.
Regular exercise helps you feel better, sleep better, and reduce anxiety. Combined with good nutrition, physical activity can help people maintain a healthy weight
Following physical activity recommendations for your age provides immediate and long-term benefits. For example, being physically active can help you ward off the flu. emerging research shows that physical activity can have benefits.4,5 immune
Being overweight can affect how your body functions. In adults, obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, is associated with impaired immune function.6,7 Obesity can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines for many diseases, including influenza, 8 hepatitis B, 9,10. , 11. and tetanus.12
Safe ways to maintain a healthy weight include reducing stress, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly.
scientific evidence shows that sleep deprivation13 can negatively affect various parts of the immune system. This can lead to the development of various disorders. Smoking can make the body more effective in fighting disease. Smoking increases immune system complications, including rheumatoid arthritis.
