5 Tips for Boosting Immunity

The flu season is now in full swing, COVID-19 seems to be settling in for the long haul, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which affects mostly young children, is spreading. Combined, this triple threat is wreaking havoc across the United States and in our own backyard — Orange County health department declared a state of emergency in early November 2022 due to high numbers of pediatric hospitalizations due to these respiratory infections.

One of the best ways to stay healthy, this season and every other season, is to ensure that your immune system is strong and healthy. At Temecula Medical Group, Dr. Richard Rawson, Ryan D Rowan, PA-C, Armanda L Alvarez, FNP-C, and the rest of our team, believe that preventive care is paramount when it comes to staying healthy. 

To help you fight off viruses and other diseases, here are some tips to boost your immunity.

1. Get your sleep

When you’re running on empty because of lack of sleep, your immune system is much weaker and can’t fend off foreign invaders. It's hard to overstate the power of restorative sleep, which affects almost every area of your health, including your immune health.

So, endeavor to get 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

2. Concentrate on antioxidants

To keep your immune system fighting fit, it needs the right fuel. Eating for immunity typically involves getting loads of antioxidants that fight inflammation and unstable compounds called free radicals.

The best sources of antioxidants include leafy greens, nuts, berries, beans, and dark chocolate.

3. Exercise, within reason

Like every other system in your body, your immune system benefits from a good exercise regimen. At the very least, you should get 150 minutes a week of activity that gets your heart rate up, as well as 30-40 minutes of strength training,

The key to exercising your way to good immune health is to push yourself, but not so hard that you wear your cells down, which can weaken your immunity. Only you can judge this, but we want to see you huff and puff a little bit each week.

4. Protect yourself

No matter how strong your immune system is, you can still be infected by viruses or bacteria. We’re better educated than ever in keeping ourselves protected, and we urge you to use some of what we learned during the pandemic. For example, be mindful of being in large groups and steer clear of the person with a runny nose or other symptoms.

If you have children, they’re bound to bring home all sorts of bugs, so be sure they wash their hands frequently.

We urge you to practice any steps you're comfortable with to avoid viral infection.

5. Get expert oversight

As we mentioned, we’re big believers in preventive care, which is a large part of our concierge services. Each of our concierge members benefits from expert oversight of their health, which includes personalized plans for boosting immunity. 

When you come in, we review your health and lifestyle, run some tests, if necessary, and suggest areas where you can improve. This is especially important for patients with pre-existing conditions that make them more vulnerable to serious illnesses, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

If you’d like to learn more about boosting your immunity, contact us at our Temecula, California, office.