10 Surefire Ways To Boost Your Immunity

By Sondra Forsyth Your body's defenses against infectious diseases and other ailments become less effective over the years. But you can take simple steps to help your immune system. Here are ten ways to do it:

Pare Off Excess Pounds

Staying at a healthy weight is, well, healthy! After menopause, women's bodies tend to pack on bad-for-you belly fat, so resolve to eat sensibly and be active. Consider keeping a daily food and exercise journal and weighing yourself each morning so you'll learn exactly what works and doesn't work for you.

Enjoy A Glass Of Wine One drink a day can be good for you. Research suggests that a substance called resveratol along with the antioxidants and flavonoids in wine could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting. Other studies claim that all alcoholic beverages have the same benefits. Even so, the current recommendation is no more than a single drink each day for women and two for men. Pouring an extra glass can actually harm your immune response.

Don't Skimp On Sleep Best to log at least seven or eight hours of shut-eye a night. If you're a natural night owl, try instituting a soothing bedtime routine that will coax you to shut down by ten or eleven o'clock. If you find you can't stay asleep, see your doctor rather than resorting to over-the-counter drugs that might not be appropriate or safe for you.

Turn Off That Night Light Slumber in the dark to keep your circadian rhythm doing its job. Even a tiny amount of light disturbs your body's production of melatonin, the rest-and-repair hormone that is programmed to get to work at sunset.

Power Nap To Prevent Illness And Improve Your Memory Research proves that a mid-day snooze is just what the doctor ordered. Dozing off for fifteen to twenty minutes is ideal because you'll experience the first two stages of sleep and wake up refreshed. The third and fourth stages of sleep are deeper and you would wake up groggy, so set your alarm if necessary.

Keep Your Hands Germ-Free Bacteria and viruses love to take a free ride on your fingers in order to gain access to your body through your mouth, eyes, nose, or any small abrasions on your skin. If you've handled money, used public transportation, been to a restroom, pushed a grocery cart, or otherwise been in contact with potentially germy surfaces, wash your hands thoroughly with soft soap and water and use a hand sanitizer.

Lower Your Stress Level With A Relaxing Strategy Look into taking a class on meditation, listening to music, doing yoga or tai chi, or even dancing! Why not try the dancing-fitness craze called Zumba?

Eat These Proven Immune-Boosting Foods Try some of these: yogurt with probiotics, mustard with tumeric, garlic, oregano, red bell peppers, pumpkin, oysters and broccoli.

If You Smoke, Kick The Habit Smoking makes you prone to a host of illnesses. But you knew that and you've probably tried to give up cigarettes only to relapse. Nicotine is powerfully addictive. Still, people do manage to stop for good and you can, too. For plenty of peer support plus expert help including a weight management guide, visit the women's section of www.smokefree.gov. We're rooting for you!

Laugh! Take a comedy break. These days we're bombarded constantly with news about wars, a faltering economy, threats of terrorism, and random acts of violence in unlikely places. Make a point of going off the grid for a few hours to read a humorous novel, watch a funny flick, or get together with someone who knows how to look on the bright side. A hearty belly laugh triggers the release of the feel-good hormones called endorphins. That alone will go a long way toward keeping your immune system at the top of its game!

Author Bio

Sondra Forsyth, a National Magazine Award winner, writes for major magazines and is the author or co-author of eleven books. She was Executive Editor at Ladies’ Home Journal, Features Editor at Cosmopolitan, and Articles Editor at Bride’s. A former ballerina, she is the Artistic Director of Ballet Ambassadors, an arts-in-education company in New York City.