Before we discussed the seasonal change from summer to autumn and we talked about how seasonal changes can affect your moods. The same can be said for your immune system too. Because seasonal changes usually involve a change in temperature as well as a change in our internal clocks, people tend to battle their immune system during these colder times. Luckily, there’s a few different ways to fight against the autumn chill and boost your immune system.
What Happened to Your Immune System?
Your immune system is closely linked with your health – it helps to fight off infection, disease and sickness. But sometimes your immune system fails, and you’ll get sick. There are many different reasons why your immune system could be weaker some days or in some seasons as compared to others. Part of it is general health and part of it is lifestyle, and sometimes you just get unlucky and encounter germs. There are a handful of contributing factors, including:
- Eating,sleeping, and exercise habits.
- Stress.
- Age Exposure to germs.
- General strength of immune system.
A combination of these factors can affect your immune system greatly, thus causing you to be sicker for longer. If you have bad sleeping habits, for example, that can weaken your immune system, as your body may be too tired (literally) to fight off infection or illness. Why does the seasonal change to autumn affect people? One of the reasons is the temperature change, as it can affect the normal functions of our bodies, like our nose. The colder, dryer air is believed to slow down the body’s defense system and affect the mucous membrane’s ability to protect you from germs. Another reason people’s immune system weakens during autumn is because less time is spent outdoors in search of warmer places. This leads to a lack of fresh air, as well as being around other potentially sick people, which can increase your chances of getting sick.
Getting More Vitamins and Nutrients
One way to boost your immune system is to eat healthier! Things like consuming more fruits and vegetables that contain sources of Vitamin C are a great way to boost your immune system. Vitamin C helps to increase the production of white blood cells, which help to fight off infections. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemon, as well as vegetables like spinach, broccoli and red bell peppers. Another way to boost your immune system is to drink tea. Studies show that different types of teas have different effects on the body, like drinking chamomile tea for sleep insomnia. But when it comes to sickness, there are three kinds of tea that are good for your immune system: green tea, ginger tea, and garlic tea. Whether it’s store-bought or home-made, these teas have properties that can help fight inflammation which can help with a sore throat. Garlic tea might not be everyone’s favorite flavor, but you can add honey to it for more drinkability.
Getting More Sleep
Another way to boost your immune system is to get more sleep, or to adjust your sleeping habits. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after a nap when you’re extremely tired or sick? That’s because your body needs sleep to help recover from illness. The best way to boost your immune system is to stick to a routine of sleep. This means going to bed to get a full eight hours of sleep, as well as waking up and going to sleep at the same time. An established sleep routine makes it easier to fall asleep, and a well-rested body is a healthier body too.
Treat Yourself with an AIRE Experience
One way to boost your immune system is by practicing a little self-care and treating yourself to a spa day. No, seriously! Sometimes sickness or a weakened immune system can come from stress, and the best way to combat stress is to take some time for yourself. At AIRE Ancient Baths, we offer a variety of experiences that aim to combat fatigue as well as relax the body and mind. Aside from soaking in AIRE’s thermal baths, visitors have the option to add on massage treatments which rely on natural ingredients and remedies to restore the body to full health. A treatment like our Himalayan Salt Experience would be perfect, as pink Himalayan salt helps to de-stress and energize the body, while also clearing the mind. This treatment you could enjoy in our AIRE Ancient Baths centres as Chicago and New York in USA and Barcelona, Almeria, Vallromanes and Sevilla in Spain. In addition to treating yourself so that you can boost your immune system, a spa day at AIRE will provide refuge from the cold so that you can warm up.
