Tips For Maintaining a Healthy Immune System

1. Keep a healthy and well balanced diet: Giving your body the nutrition it needs to fight infection is one of the best things you can do. However, make sure you eat healthy because what you eat could also be a contributing factor to being unhealthy if you eat the wrong things.

2.Exercise: By getting enough exercise you can get rid of infectious organisms through sweat. Also exercise decreases your chance of infection by slowing the release of the stress hormone cortisol.

3. Get plenty of sleep: Sleep is important because while you are asleep your immune system is busy re-building and repairing itself.

4. Wash your hands regularly: Proper hand washing is the most effective barrier against the spread of infectious diseases. Use warm water and lather your hands with soap. Wash for at least 20 seconds and rinse, letting the water run down from the wrist to the fingers.

Facts About Whole Grain Foods

First off, to know why whole grains are good for us we must first know what whole grains are. Whole grains are the entire grain seeds of wheat, rice, barley, corn or oats that have all the parts of the grain including the bran, endosperm, and germ. If a food is not whole grain than the bran and germ have been removed leaving only the endosperm.

Now that we have an idea of what whole grains are, here are some benefits of choosing to incorporate them into our diets. Whole grains are packed with protien, fiber, B vitamins, and trace minerals (iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium). Eating whole grains has shown to reduce the risk of heart dieases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. The health benefits of whole grains come from all the components (bran, endosperm, and germ) working together in their natural proportions.

However, don't be fooled that all brown colored foods are whole grain! To be sure that you are eating whole grains check the ingredients list. The word "whole" preceeding the grain that you're choosing should be first to indicate that the food you are selecting has more whole grain in it than any other ingredient.

http://wholegrainnation.eatbetteramerica.com/facts/

Snack time!

I already love strawberries so it's just an added benefit that they are also a healthy choice for snacking. Strawberries contain a lot of Vitamin C which helps reduce the risk of cancers, and reduce wrinkles. They can also help fight bad cholesterol and rescue inflammation and are a good source of fibre. 

How vitamins and minerals can help you!

We all know vitamins and minerals are good for us but do we know why? Here are a list of vitamins and minerals and how they can improve your health. By picking up on a few of these you will realize why it's so important to eat right!

Vitamin A:

Helps improve eyesight, growth, appetite, and taste.

Vitamin B1: 

Nervous system, digestion, muscles, heart, and alcohol damaged nerve tissues. 

Vitamin B2:

Growth, skin, nails, hair, eyesight, and the breakdown of protein and fats.

Vitamin C: 

Immune Defence system, protection from viruses and bacteria, healing wounds, and reducing cholesterol.

Vitamin D:

Strong bones and teeth. 

Vitamin E: 

Fights toxins and is a powerful antioxidant. 

Calcium: 

Strong bones and teeth, nerve function, muscle contracting and blood clotting. 

Iron:

Good for red blood cells and muscle function, white blood cells and the immune system. 

Magnesium: 

Converting energy from food, cell repair, building strong bones, teeth, and muses and regulating body temperature. 

Zinc: 

Immune system, breakdown if protein, fat and carbohydrates. 

(Net doctor)

Eat more fruits and veggies!

Fruits and vegetables are both loaded with vitamins,minerals,fiber, and antioxidants. Here are a few and their benefits. 

Vegetables 

Broccoli is full of vitamin C, calcium, fiber and Vitamin A. 

Carrots are orange due to the antioxidant beta-carotene. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A which helps the body maintain healthy eyes, support your immune system, keep your skin healthy, and protect against certain cancers. 

Beets contain iron, the B-vitamin folate, and fiber. Red beets help fight against colon cancer. 

Fruits:

Cantaloupe  contains the antioxidant beta-carotene like carrots which is converted to vitamin A and helps to improve eye health. Also it is rich in potassium which helps lower blood pressure. And if you are trying to watch your waist you'll be happy to hear that one cup serving only contains about 50 calories!

Grapes aid in the maintenance of a healthy blood pressure by reducing the risk of blood clots. 

Kiwi is packed with vitamin C and fiber. 

(Huffpost Healthy Living) 

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

For this blog I will research and try out different ways to live a healthier life.