Many of us have been thinking about our immune systems more than usual over the course of the last few weeks.  A healthy dose of exercise in your day to day life can strengthen your immune system and keep you living a happier, healthier, longer life.  Whether you’re new to FitClub or a long-time member, FitClub wants you to understand how exercise improves your immune system so you can incorporate daily exercise into your lifestyle today!

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1. Stronger immune systems.  When you exercise, your cardiovascular system and respiratory systems are challenged and grow stronger with each workout, right?  Your immune system is no different.  Exercise challenges the cells that are responsible for finding and attacking bad bacteria in your body.  When you exercise, those cells move more quickly and work harder to protect your health.  When you live a more sedentary lifestyle, the cells move slower and you may become sick more often. In fact, a recent study showed that regular exercisers took almost half as many sick days from work as people that didn’t exercise at all.


2. Get enough exercise.  You don’t have to workout for hours a day to achieve optimal immune system function.  In fact, too much exercise may leave you feeling chronically fatigued and unable to give your immune system the nutrients and recovery it needs.  Thirty to sixty-minutes of daily exercise will leave your immune system functioning at its best.  When you’re short on time, adding a thirty minute walk to your lunch break or before dinner in the evening can help you build a habit that will keep you healthy all year long.


3. Consistency counts.  No benefits of exercise last forever if you stop exercising.  Your immune system may only be impacted for a few hours after your exercise ends.  This is why you have to build a consistent exercise program to see long-lasting results.  If you want to feel better every day, you need to move every day.  Fueling your body with high quality foods and plenty of pure water throughout the day will help you maximize the boost to your immune system.


4. Manage your stress.  It’s likely that you have experienced an increase in your stress the last few months.  It’s been a very difficult, and often scary, time.  Stress management is critical to maintaining a healthy immune system, and fortunately, a thirty to sixty-minute workout can also help your body ward off excessive stress, improve your sleep quality, and clear your mind.  Scheduling time for yourself is critical and using that time for exercise can improve almost every aspect of your life.

What are you waiting for?  Now’s the time to get fitter, healthier, and improve your immune system.  Let FitClub know what you’re doing to fit in those workouts in the comments below!