The most important thing:
- When should you start looking after your immune system?
- Which foods are bad for your immune system?
- How exercise and spending time in nature help to build a strong immune system
- Why is good sleep important
- How Stamatin boosts immunity
With winter approaching, we mustn't forget that viruses are rampant during the colder months. Frequent illnesses force us to stay indoors, disrupt our daily routine and drain the entire body.
Can we boost our immunity and avoid frequent colds? Scientific findings on this topic are encouraging. It has been clearly proven that our daily choices and habits can have a significant impact on our immune system's ability to deal with 'intruders' quickly, efficiently, and with a minimal risk of complications.
In Bulgaria, as early as September, a report from the Ministry of Health on the epidemiological situation showed that cases of respiratory viral infections were on the rise. For example, during the week of 16 to 22 September, cases of influenza and acute respiratory illnesses rose to 1,590. By comparison, there were 1,417 cases in the previous week. Therefore, it is very important to start early with caring for your body and strengthening your immunity. Even more valuable for our overall health is to develop healthy habits that we can practise all year round.
In this article, we will give you tips on how to enjoy better health during the upcoming season with relatively simple steps and how a product like Stamatin supports your strength and immune system. Stamatin has antiviral and immunostimulatory effects, which you can use both preventively and at the first signs of an infection.
Strengthening the immune system – we need to start in good time
Strengthening your immune system takes at least a few weeks (1). That's why it's important to prepare in good time for the cold and flu season. Start eating a suitable diet and using products like Stamatin in the autumn for a stronger immune system. Immunity-boosting products like Stamatin have a cumulative effect. The sooner you start taking it, the more effectively you can protect yourself from winter viral infections. To ensure a virus-free season, you should start taking Stamatin at the beginning of the season, preferably in September-October. The duration of use should be at least 3 months, but it is recommended to continue throughout the entire season. Stamatin provides continuous support for the immune system and helps to prevent infections when the risk is greatest.
In the next paragraph, we will tell you how we can also improve the functioning of the immune system by changing our diet, getting adequate rest and sufficient exercise.
Which foods are proven to help us get ill less often?
It's best not to be swayed by adverts for certain "superfoods" as there is no single food that can protect you from disease. Your diet should be varied and rich in as many fresh, seasonal produce as possible. In the following paragraph, we will suggest combinations of foods that contribute to a strong immune system.
Our first rule when shopping is to avoid overly processed foods. All kinds of waffles, biscuits, chocolate bars, croissants and fizzy drinks have no nutritional value and provide only 'empty' calories, so you should remove them from your diet. Sudden spikes in blood sugar levels have been shown to disrupt the normal functioning of the immune system and can hinder our body's defence against viral infections.
Replace desserts and sweet drinks with wholemeal bread and pasta, brown rice, pulses, fresh fruit and vegetables, green herbs, white meat and fish, eggs, yoghurt, raw nuts and seeds, and a small amount of extra virgin olive oil.
Important vitamins and minerals for immune function
Proper nutrition can go a long way in helping you fight off common illnesses during the winter. If your diet regularly includes a variety of healthy foods, you will provide your immune system with the nutrients it needs to function normally.
Besides vitamin D, there are several other nutrients that play a central role in our immune response to viruses.
Vitamin C: Acts as an antioxidant and plays an important role in preventing inflammation in the body. A deficiency in vitamin C has been shown to make us more susceptible to illness. Foods rich in vitamin C include peppers, strawberries, citrus fruits and Brussels sprouts.
- Vitamin B6: Supports the biochemical processes of the immune system and is involved in the synthesis of white blood cells. Chickpeas, beef, salmon, chicken and turkey, bananas, potatoes and cottage cheese are among the foods that contain vitamin B6.
- Vitamin E: Another powerful antioxidant, vitamin E helps our body fight infections and is important for the functioning of the immune system's T-cells. You will find it in nuts and seeds, spinach, kiwi and tomatoes.
- Zinc and Selenium: These two minerals also play an important role in regulating the immune response and providing good protection against infections. Foods rich in zinc include beef, pumpkin seeds, turkey breast, cheddar cheese, oysters and sardines. You can get selenium by regularly eating Brazil nuts, brown rice, lentils, eggs, peas and oats.
Suffer from illness less often with the help of Stamatin
In addition to diet, our body and immune system can also benefit from additional support. Stamatin is an excellent way to get more substances that have a beneficial effect on the immune system. With its powerful antiviral and antibacterial action, the combination of ingredients in Stamatin is an excellent way to combat infections on multiple levels.
Stamatin acts at the first signs of a viral infection. Its active ingredients block the attachment of viral cells, which reduces the likelihood of infection and the spread of the infection.
Stamatin also helps to speed up recovery and healing from viruses. Stamatin has a proven effect on respiratory infections (especially bronchitis, sinusitis and the common cold). It helps to restore the airways and eases breathing. This leads to a faster recovery and reduces the duration of the illness.
In 2023, a clinical trial was conducted in Bulgaria on more than 1,000 patients. The results confirmed Stamatin as part of an effective treatment for respiratory infections. As a preventative measure against common illnesses, Smatamin is recommended at the start of the winter season.
Walking outdoors and sport help
Moderate but regular physical activity is what scientists recommend to stay healthier in winter and throughout the year.
Moderate-intensity exercise improves blood circulation, which is directly linked to the proper functioning of the immune system. Exercise is a way to keep our muscles in good shape and feel energetic, but it is also a way to maintain a healthy body weight. This is another factor that is linked to good immune protection against pathogens.
In overweight people, the following negative processes are observed:
- Reduced production of cytokines;
- Impaired function of monocytes and lymphocytes;
- Dysfunction of natural killer cells;
- Reduced function of macrophages and dendritic cells;
- Reduced response to antigenic and mitogenic stimulation (2)
Therefore, maintaining a healthy body weight through regular exercise and a sensible diet is an important step towards ensuring our immune system functions well and is prepared for the winter onslaught of respiratory illnesses.
Additional health benefits are gained by regularly finding time to exercise outdoors, in nature or in a city park. We need natural sunlight for the synthesis of vitamin D, which is especially important during the colder, darker months of the year. The importance of vitamin D for a strong immune system is well-studied and documented. This vitamin regulates several human genes that are involved in the natural modulation of the immune system (3).
Don't let the low temperatures discourage you from getting outside – 15-20 minutes of outdoor exercise twice a week is enough to feel the beneficial effects.
Adequate sleep and relaxation
And while exercise keeps us in shape, a good balance and sufficient rest are the other side of the coin when it comes to taking care of our immune system.
Lack of sleep is one of the proven culprits when it comes to a weakened immune system. This is because when we sleep, complex and important immune-regulating processes take place in our bodies (4). Chronic sleep deprivation can cause a serious imbalance in the immune system and make us extremely susceptible to illness.
Just think about one simple fact – when our body is attacked by a cold or the flu, we almost immediately feel sleepy. This is our body's innate, natural mechanism to provide itself with the conditions it needs to recover.
All we need to do is listen to the signals our body gives us and make sure we get enough sleep and rest, especially during the coldest months of the year.
Maintaining a strong immune system and a healthy body can be considered a difficult task, especially during the autumn and winter months, but it doesn't have to be. With a healthy diet rich in vitamins, additional support from an immune-boosting product such as Stamatin, regular exercise and sufficient exposure to the sun, you can be sure you'll be in good enough shape to face the cold and flu season.
