How do I Keep Strong Immune System?
Healthy Life

How do I Keep Strong Immune System?

In my previous post, I wrote about my experience with the coronavirus infection that I suffered back in March. I was ill for two weeks. But, thanks to my strong immune system, I only had relatively mild symptoms, although that’s relative, because I was actually very ill. However, I didn’t end up in hospital with a viral pneumonia, in ICU on a ventilator. Regretfully, many people are dying in the UK, where I am at the moment, and I don’t think that the epidemic will ease up any time soon.

We listen to the news and read in the papers about the coronavirus epidemic and we may think that it could never happen to us. But, that’s not the right way to think. The virus affects everyone. Basically, it does what it’s designed to do – it looks for new hosts to multiply and spread further. It’s a basic microbiology.

I was very scared when first symptoms of my disease appeared and after I had realised that it was the coronavirus infection. Also, I remember thinking that I would probably need to call an ambulance and go to the hospital at some point. I believe that, at the very beginning of this disease, no one is so ill that they need to go to the hospital straight away. But, I started to feel worse with every passing day. The worst part was that I was basically waiting to see if and when I was going to start suffocating.

However, thanks to my strong immune system, I beat the infection and came out unharmed. But I am perfectly aware that it could’ve gone the other way. Although, when I think about it now, it could be that the effort that I had invested in keeping myself healthy, over many years, has paid off.

So, let’s have a look at things that I do in my life for my health and my strong immune system:

 

  • Healthy nutrition
  • Physical exercise
  • Supplements
  • Positive state of mind

 

 

HEALTHY NUTRITION

 

Personally, I believe that healthy nutrition is the most important for strong immune system. However, this is not something that you can achieve overnight. It has to be an integral part of your life style, at all times.

I started paying attention to what I eat approximately 5 or 6 years ago. I eliminated almost all ultra-processed food from my diet. In other words, I only eat natural and good processed food.

But, let me give you some examples, it will be easier for you to get a picture of my diet.

 

Strong Immune System
Exotic fruit on display in a supermarket

 

 

WHAT DO I NOT EAT?

 

So, let’s start with things that I avoid. First of all, I never eat junk food. In this category, I include everything that you can buy in fast food outlets. For me, that’s not food, they are just edible products completely stripped of all nutrients. They are also full of toxic and unhealthy ingredients.

I feel sad whenever I pass by one of such outlets and I see them full of people. But, it’s not up to me tell anyone what to eat, we need to educate ourselves and decide what’s best for us.

I never buy ready-made meals. This may sound strange to readers in countries where factory produced meals don’t exist. However, in the UK – you can buy them everywhere. When you enter supermarkets in the UK, you come across aisles full of factory produced edible products. All you need to do is to warm them up in a microwave and eat.

The fact that they are offered and sold in such abundant quantities tells you that a lot of people in the UK don’t eat well. So, the point I want to make is that you certainly don’t want to eat something that resembles original food. You don’t want to eat something that’s full of preservatives, flavour enhancers, additives and other toxic substances, simply because you shouldn’t put any of that in your body.

I also avoid carbohydrates, especially products made from wheat. After you’ve eaten something made from wheat, your digestive system rapidly converts it into glucose and you end up with a huge and unhealthy spike in a blood sugar level. Of course, the insulin will reduce blood sugar to an appropriate level, but all that excess glucose is transformed into fat and deposited around your waist and your internal organs.

Finally, I avoid sugar in all its forms, which means that I almost never eat cakes, biscuits and similar products where sugar is the predominant ingredient. If I eat chocolate, I always choose one with at least 85% cocoa.

 

 

WHAT DO I EAT FOR MY STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEM?

 

I predominantly eat natural and good processed food. When you, like me, eliminate a lot of stuff that people normally eat, it may be difficult to imagine what’s left to eat. But, it’s not that bad.

I eat a lot of vegetables. I also eat fruit, but in smaller quantities because fruit contains fructose – which is another type of sugar.

Furthermore, I eat eggs and cheese. I also eat meat, but only fish and poultry. When I eat fish, I choose oily fish, such as sardines and mackerel. I limit tuna to several times per month. Tuna is a big fish and it contains mercury. I also eat a lot of salads. I make and eat hummus on a regular basis.

 

Strong Immune System
Salad on display in a supermarket

 

I eat nuts. Whenever I feel a bit peckish, I take a handful of nuts, rather than ultra-processed snacks. They keep me going until the meal time. Nuts, such as walnuts, almonds or cashew nuts, contain very little carbohydrates and even less sugar. They are really the perfect snack.

 

Strong Immune System
Various nuts on display in a market

 

So, the point that I want to make is that I nourish my body with healthy and essential nutrients every day. I do my best to limit the intake of undesirable and toxic ingredients. I believe that’s why I have a strong immune system.

 

Strong Immune System
Tomatoes on display in a supermarket

 

 

PHYSICAL EXERCISE

 

Whenever I am in London, I regularly go to the gym, four or five times per week. I alternate between cardio exercises and machines. In other words, one day I do cardio, the next day machines and weights for muscles and for general toning of the body.

A lot of people that I know do the same, but I also know a lot of people for whom going to the gym and doing physical exercises is difficult.

Every time when I finish my session in the gym, I feel energised. I eat and sleep better. I’ve noticed that when I travel and when I don’t do any exercises, my body immediately reacts. I somehow immediately start to feel heavier .

Thus, I believe that physical exercises that I do on a regular basis significantly contribute to my strong immune system.

 

Strong Immune System
Me in the Gym

 

 

SUPPLEMENTS

 

To further support my strong immune system, in addition to everything that I’ve already mentioned, I also take supplements. Not too many, just those ones that I personally consider important. When you eat good natural food, you get all important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, through your food.

But, some vitamins and minerals are not so readily present in food that I eat on a daily basis. That’s why I take them as supplements.

I take turmeric every day, for example. Turmeric is very much present in the Indian cuisine, but people don’t really use it in western countries. Sometimes, I buy it and use it in my cooking, but not regularly.

During winter, I take Vitamin D3. As there isn’t much sunshine in the winter, our body is unable to produce it, thus the best I can do is to take it as a supplement. Vitamin D3 plays a very important role for the immune system.

 

Strong Immune System
Multivitamins

 

 

POSITIVE STATE OF MIND

 

In addition to everything that I’ve already mentioned, I think that my positive state of mind also significantly contributes to my general well being and helps my strong immune system. The state of mind is an intangible notion, thus it’s difficult to define and measure it. The state of mind means different things to different people.

Bu if I am to describe what I consider to be my positive state of mind, I’d start with being in perfect harmony with myself. In other words, I know what I want in my life and I work to achieve my goals.

Perhaps, the most important is to eliminate all negativity. It usually comes from other people, although it can also be a negative situation in which we find ourselves. For example, there was a very toxic person in the last company where I worked and I had to interact with her on a daily basis. I remember sitting at my desk and asking myself numerous times: ” Why do I need this in my life, why do I allow such people in my presence”. But, there comes a time when we have to stop that negativity, even if it means walking away from such people and places. That was exactly what I did.

The current situation with the coronavirus epidemic is also negative, but as there is very little that we can do about it, there isn’t much point in harbouring negative feelings. Of course, no one is happy to sit in quarantine at home. The key is to turn such situations to our own benefit. There is so much that you can do at home, especially when you have so much time.

I’ve learnt a long time ago that what matters to me is having free time and being able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. Also, being surrounded by a group of good, faithful and trustworthy friends. I don’t have any interest in material things. I cherish experiences and that’s why I travel and why I write this blog.

Positive state of mind comes with wisdom and age, but we need to be conscious of it and we have to continuously work to achieve it. It doesn’t happen automatically, you have to invest a lot effort to arrive there.

 

 

WHAT NEXT?

 

I will look into some of the points that I mention here in greater detail in my forthcoming posts. Right now, during the epidemic and the lock downs, we all need to be patient. The most important is to stay safe and healthy.

Despite the fact that I’ve successfully recovered from the coronavirus infection, I advise everyone not to get infected. You can’t know how your body will react and whether your immune system would manage to fight the infection off.

We all need to wait a bit longer and hopefully we will know much more about this virus very soon.

At the moment, eat well, do exercises, take some supplements and be positive.

 

 

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