| |
Strengthen your immune system so you have less time off this cold and flu season. Many will attempt to protect themselves with flu shots, high doses of Vitamin C and excessive hand washing. You can intensify your immune effect by adding exercise to your immune strengthening regimen.
These days it is no secret that the economy is in shambles and many people are stressed because of it. This could have a big impact on your health because, unfortunately, stress lowers your immunity. This could leave you more susceptible to colds and flus. Exercise is one way of alleviating stress and to help channel the toxins created from stress out of your body.
Stress also causes us to eat "comfort foods," which can be bad for our body's immune system if it gets out of control. The right exercise can help you control your appetite and burn calories from when you do indulge. It can also build confidence which can further help you to control your appetite and make you want to eat the right foods.
But not all exercise will work to strengthen your immune system. For example, if you work out with weights, it can be extremely helpful, unless you overdo it. If you work out too hard or over train, you could create more toxins, such as too much of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. This adds to the burden already on your immune system and has an effect of temporarily lowering immunity.
Some exercises are excellent to strengthen your immune system. These include more moderate and consistent exercise. This type of exercise will stimulate your immune response by creating a temporary boost in your body's ability to create macrophages - cells that kill bacteria.
Even though it is a type of circulatory system, your immune system has no pump to move it like your blood. Therefore it relies on the action of muscles pumping in order for it to move out waste, including bacteria and virus that has been killed off or neutralized. Movement of your lymphatic system also helps to move around your white blood cells so they are more effective at killing bacteria and virus.
Two of the best exercises that fit the above description are walking and rebounding. Both of these help to strengthen your immune system. They do this by causing you to contract your calf muscles, which in turn pumps and moves your lymph fluid. Your lymph fluid is then better able to carry around white protection cells and carry out waste. Both of these exercises also allow for more oxygen intake for extended periods of time, which also helps increase circulation, carry oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and allows you to carry out waste.
Walking is excellent exercise for your immune system. It helps you keep your muscles stretched, and your blood moving. When walking, take long strides and be sure to pump your calf muscles. It is best to keep your pace moderate to brisk, depending on what shape you are in. Walking too fast will create the opposite effect and too slow will give you no benefit.
Rebounding is another term for jumping on a special trampoline designed for exercise. This can be done for 10-20 minutes at a time or for two minute periods throughout the day. It moves your circulatory system and your lymphatic system, increases oxygen intake and tones all your muscles. Don't try this on a recreation trampoline - use only a rebounder designed for exercise.
For either exercise be sure to stretch before and after. Start slow and work your way to longer periods of time. Don't overdo yourself if you want to strengthen your immune system. Check with your doctor if you have health issues or take medications.
Be sure to make exercise a part of your health regimen. It is an extremely important aspect of health and one of the best ways to strengthen and build your immune system.
Cindy is a Certified Nutritional Counselor and has been working with clients for over 15 years. Learn more about how to strengthen your immune system and body cleansing to protect you this season.
 EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here
More articles by Cindy Papp
- Improve your Health (Michael Tomberlin)
Improving your health doesn't have to be a difficult job. Following just a few simple steps and making a few chenges in your life can quite often create dramatic improvements in your overall wellness. - 6 Tips to Get the Fat off Fast with bodyweight exercise! (Emile Jarreau)
M2 Fitness Pros certified fitness trainers,est. 1988, serves motivating Fat loss training sessions and total wellness. M2Fitness Pros administers nutrition coaching and certifies the effective Naked Commando System as a fat loss and muscle building tool.
|
