
As COVID cases rise again, the top three things you must do to strengthen your immunity
As the number of
COVID
cases rises, it's more important than ever to have a
strong immune system
. Vaccines and good hygiene are important, but the choices you make every day, like what you eat, how you move, and how well you sleep, are also very important.
Due to COVID-19, strengthening the immune system is especially important as flu season draws to a close. Keeping oneself healthy is essential during this time.
To maintain a
healthy lifestyle
, one must lead a balanced lifestyle that incorporates physical activity, healthy eating, and sound sleeping habits. These easy things you do every day can help your body stay strong and fight off infections, as per a report by UVM Health.
ALSO READ:
New TikTok diet trend sparks backlash as experts warn it's fueling a dangerous new wave of harmful eating habits
Which foods actually help strengthen your immune system?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, maintaining a healthy diet is essential for a robust immune system. It suggests getting your daily intake of vitamins and minerals from food sources rather than relying on supplements unless absolutely required by a doctor.
Live Events
Vitamins A, C, D, E, iron, and zinc are important minerals and vitamins that strengthen the immune system.
Citrus fruits, leafy greens, strawberries, fatty fish, almonds, spinach, broccoli, lean chicken, shellfish, lean meats, yogurt, and chickpeas are all good sources of these nutrients.
Can exercise really make your body fight infections better?
Your body's antibacterial cells will proliferate and spread if you exercise frequently. You can use Peloton, Planet Fitness, or DownDog to work out at home if you don't want to go to the gym. You might run or walk outside as well. You may find excellent at-home fitness tutorials on YouTube.
Why does sleep matter so much when it comes to immunity?
Get enough sleep to avoid getting sick. Turn off electronics an hour before bed, keep the room cool, close the shades, use a white noise machine, or get an app for your phone that makes white noise. Going to bed and getting up at about the same time every day will help you sleep better, as per a report by UVM Health.
FAQs
Do I need supplements to stay healthy during the COVID season?
Not necessarily. Most nutrients you require, such as vitamins A, C, D, and zinc, can be found in common foods such as fish, leafy greens, and citrus.
What is the simplest way to increase immunity at home?
Stick to the fundamentals: eat whole foods, exercise daily, and prioritize a good night's sleep. It is all about being balanced.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
33 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Covid situation in control, no need to panic: PMC
Despite a noticeable uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials claim that the situation in the city is under control and there is no need to panic. Civic officials said that existing Covid management protocols will continue to be followed. On Monday, the PMC held a review meeting to assess the Covid-19 situation in the city. The meeting was chaired by additional municipal commissioner M J Pradeep Chandran, and attended by representatives from the PMC health department, public health officials, and the Rapid Response Task Force. Experts from key institutions such as the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), National Institute of Virology (NIV), B J Medical College (BJMC), and private hospitals also attended the meeting, according to officials. The RRT members said that the current virus strain in circulation is mild and no deaths have been reported in the city. The PMC till date has sent 145 Covid samples for genome sequencing and no new variant has been found. Besides, patients hospitalised with influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) will be tested for Covid. Dr Nina Borade, health chief of the PMC, said, 'The Covid situation in the city is under control and the situation is not alarming. However, experts have stressed that individuals in high-risk categories, with existing co-morbid conditions should take precautions. We have asked all private hospitals to test SARI and ILI patients for Covid.' As per the statement issued by the public health department, Maharashtra on Monday reported 65 fresh Covid cases with 26 from areas under the PMC, 22 from Mumbai, and two from areas under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Since January, 1,504 Covid cases and 18 deaths amongst the infected have been reported. Furthermore, there are 613 active Covid-19 cases in the state. Since January, Mumbai has reported 687 cases, 681 of which were reported in May alone, said Dr Babita Kamlapurkar, joint director of health services. Dr Kamlapurkar said that instructions have been issued to all officers in the divisional, district, and municipal corporations across the state during the Covid-19 review meeting. 'Surveillance for ILI and SARI patients is being conducted regularly, with 5% of these patients being asked to undergo testing for Covid-19. All Covid-positive samples are sent for whole genome sequencing. Additionally, all healthcare facilities under the public health department, medical colleges within the medical education department, and hospitals and medical colleges in urban areas are directed to be prepared for Covid-19 testing and treatment,' she said.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
CM: Cov is now endemic, Bengal is fully prepared
1 2 Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged people not to panic over the current Covid situation, reminding them that the pandemic had now turned endemic. "That means it's a manageable local health issue, not a global emergency. We must learn to live with it responsibly. We saw a handful of 4,000-5,000 cases across the country. It is a type of influenza, an Omicron virus. People should not be afraid. Normalcy is there. But precautions should be taken on a personal level," the CM said. "Bengal is fully prepared." Banerjee chaired an emergency meeting on Covid with chief secretary Manoj Pant, health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, DGP Rajeev Kumar, KP commissioner Manoj Verma and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya among others on Monday at Nabanna. "I held review meetings with all departments. If needed, we may resume testing and advise mask use. But for now, we are not implementing any new guidelines," said Banerjee. "Bengal has been a frontrunner in vaccination. That's why there's no reason to worry, but we must act responsibly." She urged people to stay clear of rumours on social media and trust only official govt sources. "Don't create panic. For those who have comorbidities... sometimes age is also a factor... we have arrangements. Now, we have the anti-Covid vaccine, and many are inoculated. We held the meeting to be prepared for the future so that people don't face any problem. We are not taking any decision now because such a situation has not arisen," Banerjee reiterated. The CM said cold, cough and sore throat were often mistaken for Covid, causing fear. "We get scared when we hear the word, 'Covid'. But the Covid situation in Bengal is under control. If you have a cold or cough, consult a doctor, but don't panic," the CM advised. "The govt will stand by you. Get treated at govt hospitals so that you don't have to pay a hefty amount unnecessarily."


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
48-yr-old N Kol man season's 2nd death linked to Covid
Kolkata: A 48-year-old north Kolkata resident, who tested positive for Covid-19, died last Friday at a govt hospital. While the state is yet to update this case as a coronavirus-related death, Babulal Singha's death certificate mentions 'Covid-19 with septic shock' as the cause of death. This is the second Covid death in the city during the current spike, which is likely to have been caused by XFG, a new sub-variant of Omicron. Bengal on Monday reported 54 fresh cases, taking the total Covid active cases to 747. At least four children are currently under hospital care in the city, including three at Peerless Hospital. Singha, a resident of Madhab Das Lane off Beadon Street, was admitted to Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General Hospital on June 4 with Covid symptoms and he tested positive following an RT-PCR test. The man died the next day at the hospital. Singha's death certificate, a copy of which is with TOI, does not mention any comorbidity but attributes the death to Covid-19 pneumonia and septic shock. According to the latest findings of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), the XFG variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 163 samples across India, six of which are from Bengal. Health experts said this variant was known to cause only mild infections and hence, there was no reason to panic. "XFG displays strong immune evasion and may affect previously infected or vaccinated individuals. It is one of the predominant variants causing the present outbreak. Genose sequencing shows many cases in India," said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri, microbiologist at Peerless Hospital. Associate professor of infectious diseases Yogiraj Ray, too, said this variant was not a worry as far as causing severe infection was concerned. Among the 163 XFG cases, Maharashtra has logged the highest number with 89 patients, followed by Tamil Nadu (16), Kerala (15), and Gujarat (11). Experts pointed out that the number of samples being sequenced from Bengal and the sample size needed to be increased to confirm the predominant variant. "XFG variant is a subvariant of Omicron, first detected in Canada. Like Omicron, it is expected to cause mild illness in the majority. But it can cause severe illness in elderly people with severe comorbidities. More information will be available in coming weeks," said infectious diseases specialist Sayan Chakraborty of Manipal Hospital Dhakuria. The sequencing for Bengal is conducted at the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani. Sources said that the samples recently sequenced were from govt hospitals, as there had been no communication to private labs to send the positive samples, though such facilities had also been detecting a good number of positive cases.