Five Ways to Boost Your Immune System for Under $20 a Week

Ok, ladies let’s take a moment to reflect and be honest. I’ll be the first to admit the last thing on my list for many years when preparing for a big moment was my overall state of wellness. When I started a new journey or prepared for a big day, my first thought was what I am going to wear or what hairstyle I would choose. Can you relate? Have you recently received an email to return back to work? Is your child returning to school in the fall? Are you excited about starting your freshman year of college? Are you making plans to go to a family reunion or planning to see your grandchildren? Whatever the big moment is, don’t wait until the last minute to take a handful of supplements and think it will be enough to boost your immune system.

Listed below are five simple, inexpensive, or free ways to boost your immune system.

Quality sleep: Create a bedtime routine and stick to the schedule. Aim for a minimum of seven hours of uninterrupted sleep a day. That may require you to log off of social media or turn off the TV before your scheduled bedtime to give your mind time to wind down before bed.

Exercise: Keep it simple. Just move your body. You don’t need fancy equipment to exercise. Simply go out for a walk or turn on your favorite song and dance.

Laugh: Laughter is a great way to release endorphins and reduce stress to the body and naturally boost your immune system.

Sunlight: Get out and enjoy the sun. It is a great source of Vitamin D. Try going outside between 8:00 am to Noon and enjoy the feeling of the sun on your beautiful skin. An adequate amount of sunlight is 15 to 30 minutes daily.

Eat Your Vitamins: I am not against multivitamins or OTC supplements, but I know firsthand that buying different types of supplements for varying age groups can be costly. The supplements can include other ingredients like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors which are not beneficial to the body. Why not enjoy a simple snack, smoothie, or even a homemade popsicle that will provide you with essential yet enjoyable sources of vitamins. Simply blend or eat a combination of strawberries, blueberries, oranges, yogurt, spinach, dark chocolate, almonds, turmeric, or ginger and enjoy a special treat. These foods are filled with antioxidants and free radicals that will give your immune system a boost. If you are on a budget, simply choose one fruit selection a week to pair with other items listed above, and you will give your immune system a boost without sacrificing your budget.

If you are feeling brave and want to chew on a clove of garlic, this is another great supplement, but may not be as enjoyable as others listed. That brings me to another point. Choose foods and exercises that you enjoy. When you chose things that you enjoy, you are more likely to make them a part of your lifestyle. If you or your family can’t incorporate some of the foods in your diet due to allergies or intolerance, try something as simple as adding lemon to your water. Just keep it simple!

Ladies if you follow these five simple steps before you return to work; meet your roommate for the first time; drop your child off for their first day of school; or keep your grandchildren, be confident in knowing you took additional steps to boost your immune system and have the energy to seize the day.

Your Sister in Wellness,

Lauren