Immune Resilience

While most of us have a general idea that our immune system helps us fight off infections – like COVID19, most of us haven’t given too much thought to this important defense system.  Until now.  Every day, someone seems to come out with a new “immune-boosting” strategy.  Some of the ideas might be helpful – but many are not.  To help reduce harm– think about maintaining a healthy immune system, as opposed to simply “boosting” it.

Maintaining is about sustaining while boosting implies jump-starting or temporarily increasing. What we should focus on is not a quick fix, but the long-term. Work toward helping our immune system functioning optimally and normally so it can do its job rather than trying to put it into short-term high gear.

By maintaining overall health, you can help maintain your immune system health as well.  Scientists and physicians at the Well Living Lab suggest the following:

• Eat healthy – (think Mediterranean diet) You can learn more at mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801

• Stay active

• Sleep well

• Well Living Lab research supports the recommendations to keep your sleeping room quiet and dark

• Think about noise levels and, if high, either reduce them or use a white noise generator

• Try to maintain a relatively cool environment – since most studies suggest we sleep better when it is cool

• Manage stress

  • This may be a great time to try meditation, guided imagery or Tai Chi.

Dr. Amit Sood, former director of the Mayo Clinic Mind-Body Initiative, recently released a short video highlighting many of these concepts:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0vEe1xkdw8

Finally, keep in mind that all these factors work together to support our health and well-being. Now is a good time to start life-long healthy habits or strengthen and recommit to what you already are doing.