Caring for your immune system has never been so important and discovering healthy ways to give it a boost is an essential wellness tool.
The benefits of a solid immune system include improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and reduced inflammation, which all lead to better overall health. So it makes perfect sense to keep it in perfect working order.
While there are an array of ways you can help your immune system, including eating nutritious foods, increasing your exercise, and getting enough quality sleep, you can also give it a big push in the right direction by fasting. Here’s why:
What is your immune system?
Your immune system is your body’s defense mechanism against infection and stress. It is made up of a network of tissues, cells, and organs which work together to protect the body. When it’s weak you are prone to invaders such as viruses and disease.
A healthy immune system can help you fight back when illness strikes.
What is fasting?
Fasting is the voluntary abstinence of food for several hours to several days, which gives the body’s digestive system a chance to rest.
Fasting allows the body to draw on its own fat reserves through the natural process of autophagy, where the body removes damaged or unnecessary cells to regenerate newer, healthier ones.
How does fasting help your immune system?
We know fasting can aid in weight loss for very obvious reasons, but you may not know why fasting is said to be so good for the immune system.
Many studies have shown that the immune system responds to a lack of glucose. This is because once the body has no more energy stores of glucose left it begins using fat and amino acids as energy sources.
When fat is used to fuel the body it produces ketones, many of these benefit the immune system.
Making the switch to ketone metabolism only happens if you push your body to do so. When we consistently eat our bodies are happy to subsist on glucose and the changeover doesn’t happen.
Fast for a period however and reset your immune system. Clean out the old immune cells and begin producing new ones.
How often should you fast to improve my immune system?
The great news is you do not need to fast every other month to clean up your immune system. Two or three times a year will do wonders for your body.
Find a fasting program that works for you, It could be a juice fast, water fast, or the mono diet. Ensure you prepare your body by gradually reducing your food intake the week before you fast too.
When you’ve completed your fast continue to help out your immune system by consuming foods which are rich in antioxidants, probiotics, and those which combat inflammation.
If you found this blog post interesting you might also like to discover how a summer sauna can benefit your immune system as well.