Three simple tips to strengthen the immune system

For these days of confinement in our homes, the best thing we can do is protect ourselves and follow the recommendations of specialists. Nevertheless, we can also help strengthen our immune system through easy actions (not spend a lot of money on buying “magic” products).
The immune system defends our body against molecules and cells that could provoke illnesses and discomforts. When the system detects a virus and/or a bacterium, the white blood cells come to the rescue to fight them. Below are a few recommendations to increase your energy and lead a healthier lifestyle:
- Diet is key to stimulate the immune system and citrus juices can help, due to their high content of vitamin C. The body does not produce or store Vitamin C, so it must be ingested daily. It stimulates the production of white blood cells, the soldiers of our body that help fight infections. The most common citrus juices are orange, grapefruit, lime and tangerine (please check the citrus juices included in our product catalog). All of these are highly recommended to help prevent colds.
- Establishing a routine also helps decrease stress levels and avoid bad habits. For example, waking up between 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning, taking a shower, starting the workday from home and respecting meal and rest schedules, helps reduce the stress due to the uncertainty that we currently live in. Stress causes our body to start the production of cortisol, a glucocorticoid capable of generating mild immunosuppression, making it easier for opportunistic microorganisms to act against us, generating urinary tract infections, catarrhal symptoms, etc.

- Being physically active is another of the most useful tips. In a matter of weeks, it is easy to gain weight due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, however, exercising is easier than we think. You do not need a gym, you have simple tools at home, for example: going up and down stairs, jumping rope, walking, doing yoga, aerobics or dance classes on easily accessible internet platforms. One of the theories of how moderate physical activity helps to strengthen the immune system, is that exercise causes changes in white blood cells, so that they circulate faster and detecting viruses in our body faster.
As seen above, it is easier than we think to strengthen our immune system. Let´s start today!
Griszell Pompa (April 14th, 2020)
References:
Jugos cítricos para fortalecer el sistema inmunológico, evitar infecciones y virus. Aguilar, V. Tiempo Digital. (11/03/2020). Website: https://tiempo.hn/jugos-citricos-para-sistema-inmunologico-evitar-infecciones-virus/ Visited on: 04/07/2020
Qué y cómo comer para no engordar en la cuarentena. Guillén, J. Cuidate Plus. (30/03/2020). Website: https://cuidateplus.marca.com/alimentacion/nutricion/2020/03/30/consejos-engordar-cuarentena-172563.html Visited on: 04/07/2020
25 alimentos que te ayudan a mejorar tu sistema inmunitario. Segura, A. La Vanguardia. (16/03/2020). Website: https://www.lavanguardia.com/comer/tendencias/20200311/474044798763/comidas-alimentos-inmunes-enfermedades-defensas.html Visited on: 04/07/2020
Cómo fortalecer el sistema inmunitario: 14 sugerencias de los expertos. Rivera, S. Los Angeles Times. (19/03/2020). Website: https://www.latimes.com/espanol/california/articulo/2020-03-19/como-fortalecer-el-sistema-inmunologico-14-sugerencias-de-los-expertos Visited on: 04/07/2020
Consejos para mantener una rutina saludable en cuarentena. GDA. El Nacional. (24/03/2020). Website: https://www.elnacional.com/life-style/consejos-para-mantener-una-rutina-saludable-en-cuarentena/ Visited on: 04/08/2020

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