Build your own immunity to help build an Immune India!

Illness attacks you. Its ready for the little war with you every now and then and with the change in weather, comes the "Big battle". 

What does the immune system do?

The immune system of the body defends it from disease causing micro-organisms. But sometimes it fails and allows germs to invade and make it sick. So the best bet against illness is improving ones self-defence the 'immune system'. It is referred to as a system and not as a single entity. To function well it requires balance and harmony among the different entities of the system. The first line of defence mechanism is following a healthy lifestyle, that in turn makes the immune system healthy and strong. Lifestyle comprises of everything that your life comes in touch with both internal and external. Right from what one eats, the general habits that one follows to ultimately how one leads his life.

Early life and vaccination

The immunity of an individual starts right from the time when in the womb. Expecting mothers are told to eat right. Have their hemoglobin and calcium in the recommended range. Also they are told to have healthy and nutritious food. In fact the government creates awareness among the masses through the use of different media. Have seen programmes on the national television on building a healthy with healthy mothers.

Then when the child arrives 6 months of exclusive breast feeding that helps create a good immune system for the baby as well as it helps create the bond of love and trust with the mother.Then there are vaccination schedules recommended for the children as well as diet plans are also suggested for the little ones.  

The early life helps create the strong foundation on which an individual's immunity buids on.

Maintain a healthy diet - what you eat is what you are!

One may choose either a vegetarian or a non vegetarian diet. Sometimes the diet is chosen based on the cultural or ethnic background and preferences. It is said that what one eats has a lot to do with his mental and psychological health. Vegetarian food is supposed to be more in-line with nature and then there is satvik food thats used more for healing and detox. Eating more of meats makes on more aggressive is also an opinion. I do not endorse it though. But in India more people follow vegetarian diet and also people fast on certain days when they don't eat anything. Even if they do its just milk and some fruits. 

Foods contain combination of nutrients and other substances packed with health benefits. No single food item can provide all the nutrients and in the quantity that one needs. To ensure that an individual gets all the nutrients needed for good health, choose the recommended number of daily servings from each of the five major food groups namely grains, vegetables, fruits, beans and pulses, milk and meats. Also it is important to wash the fruits and vegetables well before they are cooked or eaten raw. Another golden rule to follow is all meats should be cooked thoroughly.

Vitamin supplements ayurvedic/ herbal preparations

Sometimes the diet one follows doesn't give all the nutrients that the body requires.This can then lead to certain deficiencies. These deficiencies in turn have an impact on the immune system of the body making it weaker and susceptible to attacks by all the disease causing microbes. It becomes important then to supplement the diet with certain vitamins. Ayurvedic and herbal preparations are recommended. 

Chyawanprash - is one such preparation that contains a combination of different ingredients that help boost an individuals immunity have been in use from time immemorial. The rishis and sages who lived in the mountains bearing all weather conditions had this to have immunity that was a shield against the furies of the weather or microbes. Ayurveda has a mention of that, now that secret is available to all. Chyawanprash is given to people of all age groups to boost their immunity. It makes one strong from inside so theres absolutely no need to fear the changes in weather. It prepares you to enjoy the seasonal changes. Dabur Chyawanprash gives you three times more immunity! 
Good health makes one strong physically and alert mentally. People who have chyawanprash regularly fall ill less often. Not falling ill improves the attendance and also enhances ones performance be it in school or in the office. Its a magic portion for the older people. They too are able to enjoy the little things in life all because of good health! I am a mother and I know what immunity means for my children. I want them to have a great childhood, to grow up in the lap of nature, to play outdoors, run in the fields, get soaked in the rain, enjoy the chill of the winters and learn to bear the summer heat. Experience the charms of growing up. I give them good immunity so that they can do all these and more!

Exercise

It is said that sitting is the new smoking. So the affects are as harmful if not more. It is important for an individual to devote  at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Be it brisk walking, running, swimming, aerobic exercises, playing outdoor games. These activities help in burning calories and are necessary for the general well being of a person. Yoga is good overall health, it also involves breathing and meditation that makes one physically, mentally and emotionally strong and well balanced.

  

 Maintain a healthy weight

 It is extremely important for people in all age groups to maintain a healthy weight. People who are over weight increase their risk of all lifestyle diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, breathing problems to name a few. It is important to balance the calorie taken in food and drinks to be with physical activities. Physical activity is important as this helps burn the food energy that may otherwise be stored as fat.

Get adequate sleep

Sleep - is something we do everyday. Its a part of everyone's routine. Quality sleep is necessary to keep our minds and bodies healthy and alert. It helps us to stay calm and be in control of ourselves and remain in harmony with our environment. Now how much sleep an individual needs depends on the individual, his age and lifestyle that he follows. Young children need more sleep than the adults and again older people sleep more hours than the younger and active adults. Children may sleep upto 10 hours whereas adults need sleep of about 8 hours. Thats considered to be 'Good'. and beneficial.

Control psychological stress

Control stress - thats the route cause of a lot of ailments affecting an individual. It isn't as easy as it sounds. In fact managing stress starts from first of all identifying the source of stress in ones life. Most of the times its not obvious  and can be easily overlooked. They are deep thoughts and fears one may have. Can be related to ones own life, fears, concerns, relationships or work and colleagues. Stress also gives rise to the ever increasing lifestyle ailments. Modern life is demanding and that itself is a big source of stress. Its important for an individual to find that out and take help to manage it. Sometimes its the professional help! but it is you the individual who'll manage 'your stress' as every individual has different thresholds.


One can also reduce infections by washing hands thoroughly after every activity that requires you to do so.Another rule that I learnt from my children's pediatrician is not give antibiotics just like that. Most of the time they are given in cases when they are not needed such as they are meant for viral infections and not for bacterial. So they may actually not do anything to the ailment but may harm and individuals immune system.

So in order to build immune India, start from your own home. Make lifestyle changes to pave way for good health and wellness. Government will have health schemes, may build parks and jogging tracks buts its all of us the citizens to imbibe the good practices into our own lives and help build an 'Immune India'.

This post is written for Immune India contest on IndiBlogger in association with Dabur Chyawanprash, www.daburchyawanprash.com

Some images are taken from google with due credits.