Before the global pandemic, many of us were too lazy to drag ourselves to the gym or do any voluntary physical activities. Exercise was one of those things that we took for granted, plus, we were so caught up in the fast-paced lives of work and school that, most likely, many of us took our health for granted.
Now, with the health crisis that has taken over the world, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and strengthen our immune systems. The lack of a cure makes us even more vulnerable to this fast-spreading disease. Aside from taking supplements and eating a well-balanced diet, one of the best ways that can boost our immune system is through exercise.
Here are some things that you should know about exercising for the immune system:
Moderate Exercise is Enough
You don’t have to take out the heavyweights and start lifting. Strenuous exercise activities don’t always translate to an effective workout. A moderate exercise activity, such as brisk walking, is enough to boost your immune system.
Some people live in areas where it is still safe to take a walk outside, just as long as you keep your distance from other people. Keeping at least 6 feet between you and anyone else is a practice that should always be observed.
If you can’t go outdoors, you can always hop on the treadmill. You don’t have to run on it. Just brisk walk, or just walk, even! With each step, your immune system gets just a little bit stronger, as exercise increases the activity of your germ-fighting cells that kill dangerous invaders that enter your body.
High-Intensity Exercise Can Increase Your Stress Hormones
You might think that doing a high-intensity workout for an hour is best, but that’s not always the case, especially if you haven’t been exercising for a while. High-intensity exercise activities can increase your stress hormones, as your body is not used to it. Additionally, if you’re not mentally into it and you’re just doing it for the sake of boosting your immune system, then you might as well forget it.
When your stress hormones increase, it decreases immune system activity, which means that you won’t get anything good from the exercise. Instead, you’ll be sore, stressed, and too tired to do another workout the next day.
As such, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Moderate exercise under 60 minutes will already have a positive effect on your immune system. Keep it light and just stick to a regular routine, and you’ll be good to go.
Just Move
Assuming that you weren’t active before the health crisis, you might be wondering how you can start. The answer to this is very simple—just move! Take baby steps. If you feel like doing yoga because that’s the activity you’re most comfortable with, go ahead and do yoga. Allow your body to get comfortable with the movement. This will take time, and that’s okay. As long as you keep your body moving for a couple of minutes per day, you’re giving your immune system much needed TLC to get stronger.
Conclusion
Now is the best time to strengthen your immune system, and one way to do that is through physical activities. Keep your body moving and to have your immune system stronger than ever. You don’t need to immerse yourself in high-intensity workouts—just keep it moderate a few minutes every day, and you should be good to go.
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