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Immune health is at the top of everyone’s mind at the moment. While responsible hand-washing and staying home when sick are the best way to prevent the spread of germs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it isn’t a bad idea to take measures known to strengthen your immune system. Many healthcare experts can agree on one easy home remedy to boost your immune health, and it probably isn’t what you would think.
Everyone knows the power supplements like vitamin C or elderberry can have on your immune system. These vitamins can help better equip your body to fight illness or infection. But according to many doctors, there is a home remedy that works even better than immune support vitamins: sleeping.
The National Sleep Foundation explained that, “When it comes to your health, sleep plays an important role. While more sleep won’t necessarily prevent you from getting sick, skimping on it could adversely affect your immune system, leaving you susceptible to a bad cold or case of the flu.
While you sleep, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, which help your body fight infection and inflammation. So sleep deprivation can decrease your body’s production of this protein, as well as cells or antibodies that fight infection.
The average adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. It is important to sleep for the right amount of time each night to maintain a healthy sleep cycle and allow your body to repair and strengthen itself daily. If you have a poor night of sleep, it’s okay to take a nap during the day to help your body make up for lost time.
