Natural Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
Dr. Gerstin's chiropractic clinic advocates a holistic approach to overall well-being, focusing on the whole person rather than just treating individual symptoms. This document explores natural methods to strengthen the immune system, including chiropractic care, proper posture, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management. By incorporating these practices, individuals can improve their immune function and maintain a high quality of life.

by Namon Kent

Holistic Health Approach
In Dr. Gerstin's chiropractic clinic, he advocates a holistic approach to overall well-being. In holistic health, the focus is on the whole person, not just treatment of a limited part of the body, or treatment of individual symptoms. This means addressing the root causes of health issues to promoting overall wellness. By incorporating a variety of natural methods, you and your chiropractor can strengthen your immune system and improve or maintain a high quality of life.
Posture and Immune System Connection
One of the primary factors that helps to keep all of the body's systems operating properly is posture. Good posture helps to support your organs so they can operate without restrictions, and these functions directly impact the immune system. Chiropractic care can both help improve posture and to correct spinal alignment issues that negatively affect the immune system.
The immune system is comprised of many organs, tissues and other elements in the body. It's a complex and beautiful system that—when functioning as it should—has the ability to protect your body from a host of infections, disease and other ailments that threaten the quality of life. Posture isn't just about looking confident or poised when you walk into a room. It's a crucial component of good health that impacts how your body circulates blood and lymph, both of which are crucial for immune function, as well as other critical functions in the body.
Bad Posture Effects
When a person exhibits bad posture for any reason, the flow of blood may be restricted. There's also reduced lymphatic drainage, which may impair the body's ability to fight off infections. Neither of these is good. Imagine a straw, and you pinch the middle. Liquid is not going to be able to flow through. That's a simplistic comparison, but it's kind of like what happens with bad posture.
Respiratory Impact
Poor posture, like slouching or hunching over while gaming or studying, can compress the lungs and reduce their capacity to supply oxygen to the body. This makes a person more susceptible to respiratory infections. And if the immune system is already compromised by overall bad posture, a common cold can quickly escalate into a painful sinus infection or worse.
Chiropractic Care
In this regard, once again, the value of chiropractic care for boosting the immune system cannot be overstated.
Lifestyle Choices for Immune System Support
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Chiropractic care is just one aspect of a holistic approach to health.
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Combining it with other natural methods that can be practiced as part of a healthy lifestyle offers comprehensive support for the immune system.
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These practices include, among other things, nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
The Natural Path to a Healthy Immune System
Nature has provided humanity with the means to work with the body, not against it. Nowhere is this more evident than in the immune system. A bolstered immune system operates like a highly trained defense system, and can be likened to a combination of foot soldiers, aerial defenses, "secret weapons" and built-in redundancies. Invaders stand little chance against an immune system that is uncompromised. And, even if a person does fall ill to some invasive enemy, a strong immune system will quickly set things to right, meaning that you will recover much more quickly when you let your immune system work in its own natural way. By choosing natural methods such as chiropractic and the natural lifestyle changes mentioned below, you act in alignment with your body's own natural defenses, which is often stronger than anything known to humankind.
Nutrition and Diet for Immunity
Every molecule in your body needs the nutrition that food provides. If you think of your body like an engine, food is the fuel. But just as good food makes your body's engine run well, bad food can take away from the body's ability to function. If you lack certain vitamins or nutrients, your body can even develop diseases. Just as you wouldn't put anything but gasoline into your vehicle's tank, you shouldn't put anything but wholesome foods into your body. Every bite you take should contain nutrients. Anything less and you're just asking to break down on the side of the road like a car that's not been properly maintained. For more information on how to boost your immune health, check out this guide from Healthline.
Eat a Varied Diet
Do you know why nutritional experts always say to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily? That's so you can be sure to get all the key nutrients your body needs, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Omega-3s and more. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is, "a colorful plate is a healthy plate." Life is bountiful with flavorful fruits and vegetables. Experiment with several and don't just limit yourself to the everyday vegetables that found their way onto your plate as a kid. See some interesting or "weird" vegetable in the supermarket? Bring it home and look up how to cook it. The more varied your diet, the more likely it is that you'll feed your body all the nutrients it needs! As your palate grows more sophisticated, you'll be naturally turned off by foods that aren't good for you. You know the ones; with the labels of ingredients that you can't even pronounce, or the "miracle" shelf-stable foods that are so laden with preservatives it's a wonder there's room in the box for the actual food.
Hydration and Immune Health
Water is the Source of Life
Water helps carry oxygen to your cells, flushes out toxins, and supports the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. When you've had plenty of water to drink, your body is better equipped to fight off infections. A healthy body is about 60% water, but that doesn't mean it can't get dehydrated. Hydration is key to the body's many systems operating as they should. You can get water in foods like watermelon and even tea, but bear in mind that tea is also a diuretic and dehydrating. If water's too boring for you, add citrus wedges or cucumber to enhance the flavor.
Hydration Basics
Water is essential for carrying oxygen to cells and flushing out toxins.
Flavored Water
Adding citrus or cucumber can enhance the flavor of water for those who find it boring.
Water-Rich Foods
Foods like watermelon can contribute to your daily water intake.
Exercise and Movement for Immunity
Movement is a Natural Immunity Booster
No one is expecting you to train for a marathon or spend two hours lifting weights in the basement. But nature didn't intend for you to sit in front of a computer screen for eight hours straight, either. The adage "use it or lose it" applies here. When you don't exercise enough, you get sore muscles, the muscles contract and it gets harder to move when you do need to.
People who work at a computer are highly susceptible to illnesses, but it's not just because they're in an office environment where there are lots of germs. A lot of it has to do with a weakened immune system due to inactivity.
All exercise counts, even if it's not formal, or conducted at a trendy local gym while wearing form fitting exercise gear. Just ten minutes moving around every hour or so is good. Cleaning the house is good exercise. Chasing the dog around the yard is good exercise. Lifting things—as long as they aren't too heavy—helps to keep muscles healthy. To get personalized exercise recommendations tailored to your needs, schedule an appointment with Dr. Gerstin today or call (847) 860-6599.
Regular Exercise
Engage in regular physical activity to boost your immune system.
Stretching
Incorporate stretching exercises to maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension.
Daily Walks
Take daily walks to improve circulation and overall health.
Yoga
Practice yoga to combine physical activity with stress reduction.
Sleep and Immune Health
The Connection Between Sleep and Immune Health
Studies have shown that people who don't get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as the common cold. During sleep, your immune system releases cytokines. When you don't get enough hours of sleep each night, your body isn't producing sufficient cytokines. This is a direct impact on your immune system.
You need to sleep deeply. If you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, you should seek medical advice, because there are many natural remedies available. If you need room blackening blinds, have to make the dog sleep in the living room or lock your bedroom door so the kids can't interrupt your weekend lie-in, don't feel guilty. Your very health may depend on it.
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Cytokine Production
During sleep, your immune system releases cytokines, which are crucial for fighting infections and inflammation.
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Sleep Quality
Deep, uninterrupted sleep is essential for optimal immune function and overall health.
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Sleep Environment
Create a conducive sleep environment with blackout curtains and minimal disturbances to improve sleep quality.
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Natural Remedies
If you have trouble sleeping, seek medical advice for natural remedies to improve your sleep patterns.
Stress Management and Immune Function
Impact of Stress on Immune Function
Chronic stress can lead to a state of chronic inflammation, which can weaken your immune system's ability to fight off infections. Stress can also negatively impact your sleep, appetite, and even your motivation to exercise, all of which can compound its effects on your immune health. Contact Dr. Gerstin for tips on alleviating stress naturally.
Impact of Consistent Habits on Overall Well-being
None of the tips mentioned above are out of reach for anyone. These are things you can implement in your life starting right now. Once you get going, these can become habits that you start to do without having to think too hard about them. Building consistent, healthy habits can significantly enhance your immune health over time. By making small, sustainable changes to your daily routine like the ones mentioned here and help you to build a strong foundation for a resilient immune system.
Dr. Gerstin's Expertise in Immune Health
As an experienced chiropractor, Dr. Gerstin is a highly respected medical professional in his community. He earned Advanced Certification in Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP) and a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan, and has since built a thriving chiropractic practice where he educates his patients on a wide range of health concerns, one of which is the integral role of the immune system in day-to-day living. Ready to boost your immune system? Schedule your appointment with Dr. Gerstin today and take the first step towards a healthier future. Call (847) 860-6599.
Dr. Gregg Gerstin