Not only because of the coronavirus crisis, but also due to the increasing number of people with common chronic diseases, such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems, one thing is becoming very clear: a lot of people do not have a well-functioning immune system.
If you want to read more about the connection to the coronavirus crisis, we can recommend this article:
Why do so many people not have a healthy immune system?
Well, chronic diseases play an important role here and they can cause drastic health effects. The real problem, however, and a factor that should not be underestimated in order to develop such diseases at all, is very basic: a micronutrient deficiency.
Micronutrients can be absorbed by the body through consumption of healthy food. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to get enough healthy food in our diets.
Why is nutrition so important for the immune system?
Everything we eat ends up in our gut, which houses a complete microbiome, i.e. a few million bacteria, virus and fungi. This microbiome and the intestinal cells have a direct “wire” to the immune system and the brain. A nutrient-rich and healthy diet is therefore particularly important. What we eat, affects our entire body, the immune performance and the performance of the brain (and often our emotions 😉)
Friend or foe?
…the human immune system actually is made to answer this question correctly. Well, at least it once could, because nowadays there are simply too many environmental changes and influencing factors such as Aluminum, heavy metals or air pollution that weaken the immune system and overload it. A virus certainly does not appear in this list, because viruses already existed before us humans and are something that the immune system can recognize as “enemy” in the case of Covid-19.
So, what should we be eating?
Even if industry, advertising and the media often want to make us believe that industrially manufactured products are an innovation and are even “healthy”, scientists and doctors who have dealt intensively with the subject of “health and nutrition” recommend:
“Better eat something that has no label”
However, getting enough healthy and micronutrient-rich foods into our diets is becoming increasingly difficult, because many lack the time for extensive research. Sometimes it’s more expensive and it is often too stressful and exhausting to swim against the mainstream and avoid already pre-made industry products.
Understandable – BUT, to stay healthy for a long time, we have to change this and give our bodies what they need for their functionality.
In order to prevent widespread diseases in our latitudes, however, according to the latest findings, only a few factors are particularly important:
- Mediterranean diet (based on lots of vegetables) instead of processed products & fast food
- Water & tea instead of soft drinks
- Approx. 4 hours of active exercise / week
- Good social inclusion
So make sure to cook fresh and healthy, keep moving and spend time with beneficial social contacts. If you can do that, you already have extremely good chances of reducing the risk for e.g. diabetes or cardiovascular disease up to 90%. The immune system is strengthened and the basic functions in your own body can work.
It’s insane, isn’t it? These points do not sound utopian and unachievable – nevertheless in our everyday life it is extremely difficult for most people to integrate them into their everyday life.
Good advice at this point is: Step by Step
If you feel like there is still room for improvement in one or all of these points, then find a starting point and slowly start building your way up. Especially when it comes to health, long-term solutions are always important and best suited!
Not all changes to a healthier lifestyle are particularly difficult. Some micronutrients, such as vitamin D, can be excellently supplemented. Dietary supplements are of course always only a supplement to an already healthy diet and in no way replacing the need of it.
Nevertheless, it helps a lot to find a way to the big goal: to be healthy for the whole life.
So if you would like to start with it now, we have another helpful article for you:
In this article you will find more information on specific micronutrients and important basics for a healthy diet and thus a healthy immune system.
Is there any information missing, have you already gained experience with this topic or do you simply want to ask something about it? Under each of our posts you will find the comment function and we are looking forward to read from you!
