Health

Nine (9) Healthy ways to strengthen your immune system

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Everyone should recognize the wonder of the human body and should be grateful to the Creator Allah (SWT). This gratitude should be shown in the care & attention given to maintain optimum health. Islam as a whole is an approach that covers all aspects of the mind, body and soul health. A truly health conscious person blends diet, nutrition and exercise with the remembrance of Almighty Allah (SWT) and an intention to fulfil all their religious obligations.

Everyone must take care of his/her spiritual, emotional and physical health. Our bodies, the most complex of machines, are given to us by Allah (SWT). They should not be abused or neglected but maintained in good order. Fulfilling the obligations of two of the five pillars of Islam requires that Muslims be of sound health and fitness.

The daily performance of five prayers is in itself a form of meditation & exercise. Concentration in prayer relieves mental stress also prescribed movements involve all the muscles and joints of the body. Ramadan fasting can have beneficial effects including lipid profile improvement and alleviation of oxidative stress.

A nutritional balanced diet always comes as a first recommendation when you are just thinking to live better, healthier, happier and longer. There are some nutrients that are particularly important for your immune system. Antioxidants, like vitamins. If you eat a variety of healthy foods, rich in fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein, whole grains, and healthy fats, you’ll be in great shape and your immune system will be too.

Healthy oils and fats are commonly necessary in any healthy diet for many reasons, one of them is helping our body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, as they are essential in hormone and cells creation.
Your first line of defense should be a healthy lifestyle.

Following general good-health guidelines are the simple best steps you can take toward naturally keeping your immune system strong and healthy. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies such as these:

1. Eat Naturally food

The old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
May have truth behind it after all. Eating nourishing foods rich in certain vitamins can help your immune system fight off illness.

Vitamin C is one of the biggest immune system boosters of all. Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, kiwis, kale and broccoli. Daily intake of vitamin C is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce or store it.

Vitamin B6 is vital in supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system. Vitamin B6-rich foods include chicken and cold water fish such as salmon and tuna. Vitamin B6 also is found in green vegetables and in chickpeas, which is the main ingredient in hummus.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps the body fight off infection. Foods rich in vitamin E include clarified butter (desi Ghee), nuts, seeds and spinach.

Probiotic & Fermented Food

Foods rich in probiotics are beneficial for gastrointestinal health and boosting the immune system. Beneficial microorganisms found in fermented foods perform a variety of necessary functions in the GI tract.
The probiotics establish a healthy balance of flora in the gastrointestinal tract, protecting against pathogenic strains that try to take hold. About 70% of the immune system lies in the gut. Healthy, balanced gut flora makes for a strong immune system.

Ginger & Turmeric

Acute inflammation is an important part of normal immune response, chronic inflammation can harm your immune system, potentially increasing your chances of illness. Intake of antioxidant-rich foods and beverages like ginger & Turmeric shots may combat inflammation and keep your immune system healthy. Strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects; Ginger may boost immune health. Turmeric is also being studied for its natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it can be used with a pinch of black pepper helps move the turmeric through the bloodstream to where it needs to go.

Black Seeds

also called Black Cumin Seed & nigella sativa, about 5000 years ago used as a medicinal mainstay, today 200 medical studies reveal its therapeutic uses. Black Seed contains over 100 active chemical compounds that may increase health, unique ingredients, called crystalline nigellone and thymoquinone, which knock out invading viruses, bacteria, and destructive renegade molecules.

Black Seed’s other nutrients Contains good fats: oleic acid, poly and monounsaturated unsaturated fatty acids including omega 3 (linolenic acid), omega 6 (linoleic acid), and omega 7. It contains protein: 8 of the 9 essential amino acids that are combined to make “whole” protein. It also has vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, folic acid, calcium, iron, copper, zinc and phosphorous. Unsaturated fatty acids are vital for a well-functioning immune system.

Al-Bukhaari (5688) and Muslim (2215) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saying concerning the black seed: “In it there is healing for every disease, except as-saam.” Ibn Shihaab said: As-saam is death.

Saffron the dried stigmas of Crocus sativa

Apart from its uses in conventional folklore medicine, recent research stresses its uses in the impairment of oxidative damage, fighting infections and inflammations, modulating immune systems. It is also rich in vital macro and micro elements such as Ca. P, Mg, Se, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn and many vitamins such as vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin. The spice’s unique chemical composition is what sets it apart not only for your culinary needs but also to bolster your body’s immunity.

Note: – Above these Herbs can be used as medicines / Therapy in limited quantity & limited time as per your Expert / Doctor / Hakeem advice.

2. Meditation

Meditation It’s about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective, aim of reducing stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and increasing peace, perception. Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing with it inner peace. Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation concept is present in all religions. Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

3. Regular exercise

Regular exercise is one of the pillars of healthy living. It improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight, and protects against a variety of diseases. Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system too. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently.

4. Enough Sleep

Sleep As noted in a recent study from the Sleep Foundation, “Without sufficient sleep, your body makes fewer cytokines, a type of protein that targets infection and inflammation, effectively creating an immune response. Cytokines are produced and are released during sleep. Sleep and its architecture is recently being pondered over by the Neuroscientists but it has remained an important topic in the Islamic literature, even the sleep manners are dealt in detail. Sleep is considered as one of the greatest signs of our Creator Allah ( SWT ) to ponder over.

5. Qailulah (Midday Napping)

Daily Nap Midday Half-hour naps have been shown to boost production of leukocytes, or white blood cells that help the immune system tackle infectious diseases. Napping is for improvement in alertness and general well-being. Qailulah (Midday Napping) in afternoon is encouraged in Islam, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) and His companions practised it regularly for rejuvenation of energy, memory enhancement and relaxation of mind. Taking a brief nap after lunch (post-lunch nap) can be considerably effective in
enhancing alertness and vigilance performance after a normal night’s sleep

6. Keep Fasting

Fasting has been used for health protocol, that fasting for three days could essentially reset the immune system. Holding off on eating for at least 16-18 hours after your last meal allows your body’s attention to become “focused on the current immune cells, recycling them and getting rid of the damaged cells. This means that during the fast, your body is running lean and mean with its white blood cells.”

7. Manage the Stress

Stress causes an inflammatory response within the body that can greatly affect your fight-or-flight response by releasing too much of the stress hormone cortisol. It also leaves us more vulnerable to infections and disease, both in and out of the office. That’s why mindfully meditating has become a must for any biohacking entrepreneurs.

There seems to be something intrinsic about meditation itself that can shift gene expression and even boost mood over time.” occurrence of autoimmune diseases, which may occur due to many reasons such as; immune deficiency due to stress or a diffuse immune system. Stress effectively alters our body chemistry, depletes our immune system, and leaves the body more susceptible to disease.

8. Massage of Body

Massage promotes relaxation and increases circulation. It also triggers measurable changes in the body’s immune and endocrine systems. Single session of Swedish massage can significantly increase production of white blood cells, which are vital to the body’s ability to fight illness. Any massage, helps reduce stress.

Massage using any specific oils (Almond, coconut, safflower, sesame, grapeseed, Olive oil) It increases circulation, encourages lymph flow, supports detoxification, reduces stress, and promotes sound sleep. People who receive regular massage have noticed a boost in their immune systems and have felt better overall.

Boost relaxation and your immune system in the comfort of your home with a simple hand and foot massage. (each foot houses 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 7,000 nerves) What could be a better way to improve your immunity system than having a relaxing massage? Massages stimulate the lymphatic system, the defence force of our body. Besides, they feel great don’t they?

9. Getting rid of sugar

Getting rid of sugar bio hacks your immune system by removing a food source for the “bad” bacteria in your gut that can kill off your good bacteria. Autoimmune problems and digestive issues are telltale signs of gut imbalance. Ideally, your gut should be 85 percent good bacteria or probiotics.