Immune system: Best weapon to protect us

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading in the world. First, it is important to wash your hands to prevent an infection. In addition, there is something we can do by ourselves, which is enhancing an immune system that is called the best weapon to protect us.

I quoted the following information from Erica Angyal Facebook page ＠ericaangyal. *Erica Angyal is a nutrition consultant from Australia, who served as an official nutrition consultant for Miss Universe Japan.)

⒈ Eat unprocessed natural foods To enhance an immune system, good nutrition is necessary. Let’s eat a carrot, broccoli, blueberry, kiwi, cabbage, spinach, and tomato proactively. These are rich in vitamin C or beta-carotene that enhances an immune system. Other than these, seaweed, mushroom, onion, garlic, ginger, yogurt, manuka honey, miso, and natto have an immunity-enhancing effect. Also, a freshly poured cup of green tea has a remarkable effect on improving immunity. On the other hand, sugar, margarine, ham, bacon, sausage, cake, cookie, donut, soft drink reduces the activity of the immune system.

2. Get enough sleep According to one study, those who sleep for less than seven hours are three times more likely to catch a cold than those who sleep for about eight hours. And, if you have a lack of sleep even only a night, natural killer cells decrease by 28 percent. During the initial stage of sleep, different kinds of immune cells’ concentration reach their peak and stress hormone decreases. It shows how important sleep is.

3. Manage stress If you become overtired or come under stress, the immune system is affected and becomes weak. When you feel stress, the activity of the immune system grows by stress management as you like such as breathing deeply, stretching, doing yoga, reading books or magazines, watching funny movies or TV shows and taking a nice long bath.

Also, aromatherapy is effective. Why don’t you add a drop of essential oil inside your mask? Not only boosting immunity but also fragrant, so it can be uplifting. Especially, bergamot seems to be most effective, but eucalyptus, tea tree, oregano, thyme, lemon, and lavender are also good. Taking a supplement of vitamin C in high doses or mineral zinc is effective as well.

Please prevent infection by cold, flu and COVID-19 by putting the above into daily life. (H.S）

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