Believe it or not, you can boost your immune system without changing your diet or exercise routine.

I already know what you’re thinking. “The nutritional health and fitness expert just told me I don’t have to eat well or work out to be healthy.”

And even though I’m sure you wish that’s what I said, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It’s common knowledge that eating a well balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables and having a consistent exercise routine is good for us, but not everyone is ready to jump all in with a plant based diet or intense workout regime. So while you are easing your way into making better food choices and being more intentional about your physical activity, here are three, unconventional, and simple ways to boost your immune system that have absolutely nothing to do with changing your diet or exercise. 

1. Start a Garden or Decorate Your House with Plants.

Many people like the idea of having plants in their home for aesthetic purposes, but did you know that surrounding your environment with them is actually good for your health? 

It’s true! Commonly bought house plants, such as Aloe Vera, Spider Plants, Snake Plants, or Warneck Dracaenas are known for cleaning the air by removing toxins like carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde. Many of these plants have been proven to increase the oxygen levels in a room, improve quality of sleep, and help with symptoms related to asthma or allergies. 

Also, the flowers of many plants can be used for herbal teas that may assist in healing different ailments and having a garden is a great way to encourage a diet rich in fruits and veggies. 

In all honesty, the benefits of having plants inside your home or a garden in your yard are endless. Plus they can add a lot of character to any room and warm up your living space with their beauty. 

2. Stay Grounded 

Staying grounded is a great way to keep your immune system strong and healthy. And no, I’m not referring to balancing your mental health, although this can help with that too. I’m talking about grounding, also known as earthing. 

Grounding is a technique that involves activities such as walking barefoot on the beach, swimming in a lake, sunbathing on the grass, or other hobbies that electrically reconnect you to the earth. 

This practice relies on electrical charges from the earth having a positive impact on the body. 

There’s not enough scientific research on grounding, but in small studies people have reported improvements such as a decrease in chronic fatigue and pain, a reduction in anxiety and depression, increase in quality and length of sleep, and lower blood pressure levels in people with hypertension. 

All in all, whether it’s a trip to the beach or a hike through the mountains, nature has been widely known for its mental benefits and is more recently becoming recognized for how it can positively affect the body physically. 

3. Listen To Music 

I don’t know about you, but I love music! We may not enjoy the same genres of music, but quite frankly, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t enjoy it in general. Positive, uplifting beats or lyrics are widely accepted for producing calming effects in people or generally improving one’s mood, but did you know they can actually assist in healing the body? 

Music is sound, and sound is rooted in vibration. There is healing power when positive vibrations are absorbed into the body. 

A scientific study found that after volunteers listened to 50 minutes of uplifting dance music, their levels of antibodies, the body’s first line of defense,  increased and cortisol, a stress hormone that can weaken the immune system, decreased. 

This is an amazing realization!

What we feed our brains is just as important as what we feed our bodies and can have lasting, positive effects on our immune system. 

Even though there’s no replacement for high quality nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management when it comes to keeping the body strong and healthy, decorating your home with house plants, practicing grounding, and listening to music can help in some of these areas while also boosting the immune system in other ways. 

So what do you have to lose? 

I challenge you to get outside in the sun today.  Walk through a garden barefoot while listening to your favorite playlist, and reap all the positive benefits that can come with it!