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Ayurvedic Tips to Improve Immunity
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Ayurveda has many benefits. When it comes to eating healthy and taking care of physical and emotional health, there is nothing better than going the ayurveda way. Being the oldest medicinal system in the world, Ayurveda helps build the internal power and strength by increasing immunity for the body to combat many diseases and infections. According to ayurveda, for immunity one needs to properly cook the food enough to make it digestible. Food cooked should be adequately soft and easy to chew and lunch should be the main meal of the day so that it can be digested easily and provides the required nourishment to the body.
With the changing environment around us, it has become very common to fall sick every weather change. Also, various flus and colds which are a part of viral infections have become a sort of epidemics that need to be curbed. If one’s immune system is strong enough, it suppresses the virus which eventually becomes latent. Whereas, if the immunity levels are low, there are bound to be outbreaks and relapses which can also be dangerous in the long run. Ayurvedic immunity booster helps in identifying foreign bodies that attacks the cells and destroys them, keeping us healthy.
For a good health according to ayurveda, for immunity one needs to retain natural resistance to diseases and its symptoms. Low immunity and poor health have symptoms like dependency to diseases, low resistance, allergies, fatigue, low energy, weakness, respiratory issues, stress and depression, digestion issues and chronic insomnia. There are many causes of low immunity which includes genetic factors, poor mental health, pollution, poor diet, lifestyle and metabolic issues. All these problems can be overcome with the help of various tips that are easy to follow.
EAT HEALTHY
The mantra to any health issue is to eat healthy and wise. According to ayurveda it is best to eat according to the body energy type which provides most nutrition. One must avoid harmful sugars, processed and canned foods that contains preservatives, limit the eating of fried and high calorie food and alcohol. If you are thinking on how to increase immune system by ayurveda, one needs to induce ayurvedic immunity boosters like coriander, turmeric, black pepper and cumin in daily food. Eating green leafy vegetables and seasonal fruits like apples and oranges are great for fulfilling the nutritional value. One must always consume lunch as the biggest meal of the day around noon and eat very light for dinner in order to keep digestion fine. Also avoid gluten and dairy. It is also recommended to eat at short intervals regularly so as to provide required nourishment and make sure the body isn’t starving.
TAKE AYURVEDIC SUPPLEMENTS
For creating a mind-body balance and increasing a strong immune system it is always recommended to take few supplements along with a good diet and exercising adequately. Ayurvedic supplements help increase the power of digestive fire along with meditation, yoga, sound sleeping pattern, and body massage. It also helps giving a positive outlook on life. To increase immunity, ayurveda has thousands of herbs like Garlic, Echinacea, ginseng, ginger, turmeric, amla etc. One can also buy ayurvedic supplements like sitopaladi and mahasudarshan, that are used to prevent colds and flu, as well as Western herbs osha and Echinacea.
DETOX REGULARLY
According to ayurveda, undigested food is the root cause of toxins that spread across the body making it unhealthy and sick. The toxins stored within the body become breeding grounds for the parasites and begin to settle into weak places in the body causing infections and illnesses and finally weakening the immune system. Hence detoxification is very important and it can be done by regularly consuming lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and juices.
KEEP THE DIGESTIVE FIRE STRONG
The digestive fire or agni is vital to a strong immune system. The immunity of our body is totally under the power of agni or the digestion process through which the nutrients are absorbed in the body. If there is an imbalance within the agni, metabolism can be affected and immunity can go low. The toxic environment in the body leads to thriving viruses and bacteria as well. One can sip hot water or drink natural hot teas throughout the day in order to boost the digestive fire.
MEDITATE REGULARLY
It is very important to do yoga or meditation regularly in to positively affect the immune system. Both yoga and meditation are correlated and help lower the stress and anxiety levels in the body. Meditation boosts the antibodies and stimulates the brain function as well.
EXERCISE REGULARLY
According to ayurveda, it is very important to exercise taking into account one’s dosha or energy. Any kind of physical activity like walks, swimming, or even weight training in the gym helps the body to recover from the sedentary positions, thereby making it more active to the surroundings. It also helps to charge the body cells making it fitter and stronger and also increases the immunity levels tremendously. It is therefore recommended to exercise regularly every day for at least 30 minutes for long term improvement in health. One can also practice pranayama, which is the ancient ayurvedic habit of redirecting pranic energy through the breath. Pranayama purifies and toughens the body while peacefully composing the mind. Alternate nostril breathing brings a positive effect to the immune system as well.
LIMIT ALCOHOL INTAKE
Alcohol is very dangerous if consumed regularly as it impairs immunity building cells. It also causes blood sludging by clumping together blood vessels and reducing the flow of oxygen to many organs. With the limited amount of oxygen to the organs the immunity is bound to get at an all-time low, causing many diseases and illnesses.
GET GOOD SLEEP
It is very important to get good sleep and rest after a hard day’s work. In a bid to improve immunity, ayurveda recommends at least 8 hours of sleep so that the immune cells can regenerate properly. Lack of sleep interrupts the process and can cause diseases like depression, diabetes, heart problems etc. During our sleep the immune system releases proteins called cytokines
TAKE WARM BATHS
According to ayurveda, it is very important to take bath with warm water in the evening in order to calm the body cells and help in their regeneration and health. Epsom salts and warming essential oils like ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, cedar, pine, basil, eucalyptus etc help boost immunity to great levels.
HAVE LOTS OF GREEN TEA
Green tea has proven to be a great ayurvedic immunity booster that helps in fighting bacteria and viruses. It contains epigallocatechin gallate, which is a flavonoid stimulating the production of immune cells. It is also rich in antioxidants and a good way to lose weight as it contains zero calories. If you take green tea regularly, you prevent yourself against cardiovascular diseases, stroke and even cancer.
REGULARLY CONSUME FLAXSEEDS
Flaxseeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and phytoestrogens. That makes them a rich ingredient for alpha linoleic acids that is vital for modulating a retort of the immune system, keeping infections and virus at bay. Flax seeds are also anti-cancer and hence a must have in your daily ayurvedic diet.