Do you wonder how you strengthen your immune system.? Let’s learn 6 ways to strengthen your immune system.

Here are some tips on how to strengthen your immune system:

Here are 10 all-natural steps you can take to strengthen your immune system & arm yourself against colds & flu this season.

• Which ways to boost your immune system stood out to you?
• Which ways to strengthen your immune system would you like to learn more about?

Watch this video on How to Boost Your Immune System

Color in and label the chart in this worksheet, and write down one way you think each named body part in the diagram is helpful. 

Watch this BrainPOP video, and explore the activities and games. 

Eat Healthy food
You are what you eat, right? The foods you consume can play a big role in strengthening your immune system. A good way to do this is by eating plenty of colorful foods. You can also look into superfoods or immunity-boosting foods.

Watch: 10 Foods To Boost Your Immune System & Stay Healthy This Fall/Winter

Get plenty of Sleep

Can a lack of sleep lead to getting sick? Yes, yes it can. Check out this doctor’s answer. On some level, we all know how important it is to get good rest, so then why is it so hard to do? Your sleep is important to keep you from getting sick and staying healthy overall. 

Read: 5 Ideas for Better Sleep 

Exercise

Exercise can improve health and bolster immunity by increasing circulation throughout the body. With good circulation, immune cells can move more effectively throughout the body, making you less prone to illness.

Watch: The Immune System: Running as Preventative Medicine – Sports Science: Running

Drink water 

Another good way to be nice to your liver (and other parts of your body) is to drink lots of water. It’s one of the easiest things you can do. Plus there are many other benefits to drinking water. Fill up a jug every day and try to get through it. Yes, it might lead to more bathroom breaks, which all teachers know is a challenge, but you’ll be glad you did. 

Sunlight

Most people regard vitamin C as the one and only cold fighter, but new research suggests that vitamin D (or specifically, the lack of vitamin D) plays a key role in how often someone contracts an illness. Many individuals living in colder climates were found to be deficient in vitamin D, but when supplemented with fortified products, those individuals suffered half as many colds.

The takeaway: Either sneak out for some sunshine—if you can find it—or make sure your diet includes an appropriate amount of vitamin D.

Watch: Sunshine Vitamin

Lower your stress:

Stress isn’t fun for anyone, but constantly feeling the strain of stress can drain your immune system. Do what you can to manage your stress levels.. Meditate, try yoga, or plan a fun date with good friends. This will make a difference in your overall risk of sickness and also in how well you can bounce back if you do find yourself with a cold. 

Watch: How to boost your immunity by reducing stress   

So, know that you understand how to improve your immune system, create a plan for yourself and how you will incorporate these healthy tips into your life.  Use Google Slides, add images, and text on what you will add these healthy habits into your life!

Compare and contrast how you can strengthen your immune system and how you can harm it.

Watch these videos on how you can weaken your immune system. Then compare what foods and activities can help your immune system and what foods and activities can harm it.

There are habits you might have that weaken your immune system, rather than boosting it. 

• Poor diet, including too much sugar intake
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol use
• Not getting enough sleep
• Dehydration
• Not maintaining regular exercise
• Obesity
• Stress
• No good support system

Watch: E-cigarettes are harmful to your immune system and lungs

Watch: What Does Sugar Do To Your Body? 10 Proven Negative Effects of Sugar

Certain groups are more vulnerable to their immune systems being compromised.

“Infants, the elderly, anyone on immunosuppressive therapy, such as cancer or transplant patients, and those with chronic medical conditions, like diabetes, COPD, and obesity, are at risk for their immune systems not functioning at top levels. If you’re someone with a weakened immune, anytime you’re exposed to more germs, stress, etc., would be the time of year you’re more likely to get sick.” 

Caring for the Immune System Activity

1. Produce a booklet on the immune system. Include key facts that you have learned, include ways in which you can care for your immune system.
2. Produce a personal dictionary for the keywords that relate to the immune system.

The Immune System

Resources to learn more about how your body wants to fight back:

• Read: 5 Ideas for Better Sleep
• Read: Yoga for Stress Relief
• Read: 5 Ways to Deal With Anxiety