The 12 secrets of people who never get sick

Why do some people hardly ever get sick?They can catch a slight cold or suffer from pain from time to time, but they rarely fall victim to a bad flu, a digestive infection or lumbago of those that force them to take sick leave for a few days, a couple of times a year. Many of these people remain in perfect health to a very old age without ever taking medication.

Despite decades of scientific advances, doctors can’t explain what needs to be done to stay this healthy. Are genes or luck the only explanations?

It is tempting to chalk it up to luck, but the journalist Gene Stone has interviewed dozens of “constant healthy” and has collected their secrets. They are not strange at all. In fact, bizarre formulas, such as taking daily supplement pills or following very minority diets do not seem to be successful. The keys of people who barely get sick are accessible to anyone. Let’s see what they are.

1. Don’t stress

They are multitude studies linking stress to ineffective functioning of the immune system.

Anxiety increases the chances of getting a viral or bacterial infection, as many people know from experience. The nervous and insecure tend to chain mild but annoying illnesses.

A study conducted with support from the American Psychological Association found that stress is one of the main threats to the health of children aged 8 to 15 and that it can cause long-term damage if they do not learn to manage it. The stress management techniques They are therefore recommended.

The simplest and most effective solution that children have within their reach to reduce their stress is the physical activity: 20 minutes of brisk walking reduces body tension by 20%. It also helps them that the family and educational environment is not constantly subjecting them to tests and Strengthen their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Besides humor is essential at any age. Smiles and laughter cause the release of endorphinssubstances with a function contrary to stress hormones and which induce sensations of well-being and pleasure.

Each nightbefore sleeping, you should Assess if throughout the day you have laughed enough. If the impression is not, there is no higher priority than introducing more sense of humor into life. The attitude is fundamental in this sense, and certainly it is not easy to change it, but we can choose what kind of conversations to have and what to prioritize.

2. Eat less

Since the first experiments with animals were carried out in the 1930s, it has been known that moderating food intake lengthens life and reduces the incidence of disease. However, there has always been a resistance to accepting that what is true in laboratory animals is also true for humans.

Between us still weighs prejudice according to which the abundance of food is synonymous with well-being. However, recent studies conducted with people show that a reduction in caloric intake decreases the incidence of health problems related to the aginglike the cardiovascular diseasesthe diabetes and the Alzheimer’s.

Participants in a study that they cut the rations they usually consumed by a quarter lowered their LDL cholesterol levels or “bad,” triglycerides and blood pressure. They are good arguments to reduce the amount of calories that the diet provides, but it must be done careful not to pass.

you can start reducing the presence of sugar (in coffee or infusions and through breakfast cereals, soft drinks and sweets), as well as products made with white flour and fats.

3. Make friends with bacteria

Maybe those who don’t get sick don’t know it, but they do. It is not that they do not take care of their hygiene, but quite the opposite. More accurately, indoor hygiene, that depends on the balance between populations of bacteria so that the problems that produce toxins do not multiply.

Very little is still known about how to act so that the intestinal flora has the correct composition, but the experts suggest some rules of behavior: do not take antibiotic drugs when it is not strictly necessary and eat foods that contain beneficial bacteria or favor their multiplication, such as yogurts and fruits and vegetables rich in fiber.

An intestinal flora in good condition implies that the absorption of nutrients is maximized, toxins are eliminated and pathogenic microorganisms are not allowed to pass through.

In addition it is important that the immune system can exercisewith bacteria normally found in the environment, especially on earth. Various studies show that people who live on farms have a more balanced immune system, less prone to allergies and repeated infections than city dwellers.

In order for the coexistence between the body and the microorganisms that surround us to be harmonious, it is convenient frequent the fields, work with the land and do not use detergents household or cosmetic with antibiotic ingredients like triclosan.

A finding from the University of California (United States) shows the important role that bacteria play: the more they are on the skin, the fewer the symptoms of inflammation.

4. Opt for more natural remedies

If you go to the doctor’s office at the slightest symptom of a common illnessLike a cold, you’ll probably get away with an analgesic, an antipyretic, and an expectorant. He may even prescribe an antihistamine and eventually an antibiotic. Everything for combat a process that the organism knows how to overcome on its own.

So much medicine not only supposes an unnecessary economic expense, but also hinders the immune response.

It is known that a fever eliminates viruses and bacteria or that a cough expels mucus. Medications are only necessary when complications appear. To avoid them, you can take medicinal plants and food that support the body’s natural response.

Thyme, echinacea, eucalyptus, elderberry, onion or garlicare some of the most popular and effective against respiratory infections. Other plants can be taken preventively, such as green tea, which is a powerful antioxidant and also activates metabolism and gently modulates mood.

On the other hand, people who stay healthy not only prefer natural means to take care of themselves, but also they lack toxic habits such as smoking or drinking more than one coffee.

5. Take care of friends

We may believe that the protective substances we ingest should have the greatest effect, but the reality is that it has not been shown to exist. nothing better for well-being than feeling part of an affective community.

This scientifically proven:

Experts like the doctor Andrew Weill, who have investigated why the inhabitants of the archipelago of Okinawa (Japan) live longer and get sick less, have concluded that as important as diet are the strong family ties of Japanese families and the practical solidarity between neighborswho tend to take care of themselves and do favors. Experts from the Harvard University have found that people with strong friendship ties have robust immune systemsthey do not usually succumb to infectious diseases and are more protected against memory loss and other cognitive disorders. Other work carried out in Sweden in 1993 showed that workers under stress but enjoying social support suffered less from cardiovascular disease than their peers. A trial conducted in USA found one direct proportional relationship between the number of friends and heart disease, depression and anxiety. In this country there is currently controversy about why Latinos are healthier than Anglo-Saxons. already talks about the “hispanic paradox”since they have less income, have incomplete medical insurance and yet their disease and mortality rates are lower. Some experts believe that its secret is in the diet and above all in the strong social support networks.

All scientific arguments dwarf next to the sensations that remain after a happy meeting with friends, or after helping or having been helped.

6. Maintain a good pH

It’s not just about the pH of the skin. the whole organism is subject to the same need for balance.

The consequences of a excess acidity were explained by the Nobel laureate Otto Warburg in the 1920s: an acidic indoor environment favors the growth of harmful cells and hinders the body’s self-repair mechanisms.

Today his ideas are revived in the light of new discoveries, such as the relationship between blood acidificationdue to lactic acid, and the development of tumors.

The alkaline diet that corrects acidity is based on plant foods. Between the more alkalizing are melon, watermelon, apple, nectarine, orange, pineapple, raisins, cucumber, avocado, dates, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, eggplant, leafy vegetables, green beans and asparagus. It is also important to control the intake of sugars and blood glucose levels.

7. Purge often

Perform depurative cures It is a widespread custom among followers of natural therapies. Those who have done some usually repeat every yearor even two or three times a year, because of the benefits they see.

Purifying cures are more necessary today than ever. Polluting substances accumulate in the body and alter its physiological processes.

The symptoms that a detoxifying treatment may be appropriate are a unexplained tiredness, muscle aches, or a low mood.

There is a variety of cleansing diets and techniques. In the majority, the intake of caloric and protein foods is reduced, and it is advisable to take fruits, juices and infusions for several days. Toxins are also removed in the sauna or taking salt baths.

Some cleansing cures can be demanding on the body, so it is always convenient learn about precautions what to take and, if possible, carry them out under the supervision of a doctorEspecially if you have a chronic illness.

8. Sprinkle brewer’s yeast on food

This particular measure may not be taken by all disease-resistant people, but they surely get it through food excess doses of B vitamins.

Without them, the body cannot metabolize well carbohydrates, fats or proteins. They are also essential for the functioning of nerve cells, hormones and above all the immune system. The B vitamins are involved in the formation of antibodies and white blood cells, which are the first barrier against viruses and bacteria.

People who lead a hectic life need to take special care of the intake of group B vitamins, as they exhaust themselves with anxiety.

They are found in different proportions in legumes, whole grains and nutsbut just a tablespoon…