Corona, a word we may not want to hear anymore. Yet it is present all around us. Just like other infectious diseases, which we mainly have to deal with in the autumn. So the big question is:how can we fight these infectious diseases? That is by allowing your natural immune system to function optimally. How do you do that? Through a healthy diet, sufficient exercise, sufficient sleep, the right supplements and enough vitamin P. More about exercise and vitamin P in this blog.
Research has shown that moderate to high intensity exercise (for less than 60 minutes) boosts immune cell activity. After 24 hours, this decreases back to normal values. Do you train or do you exercise (moderately) intensively almost every day? Then you continuously have more immune cells in your body. So schedule those training sessions!
Read also: 'How much should you train during the coronavirus?'
More exercise burns more energy. If that movement ensures that you take in fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. If you are overweight, and especially if you have belly fat, that is important.
Fat mass is active. It produces hormones, but also pro-inflammatory cells. While you actually create anti-inflammatory cells if you have little fat mass. Many women want to lose weight to look better. That's a nice side effect. However, realize that (belly) fat is really unhealthy and undermines your immune system. Let that be your motivation to make short work of being overweight. There is a good chance that you will keep it up much better.
White blood cells are the protectors of our body. When virus particles enter our body, they are recognized by the white blood cells. They then respond to this. Exercising greatly improves your blood circulation. As a result, the white blood cells are distributed much better throughout the body and you improve your immune system.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can weaken your immune system. Exercising, at least for no longer than 60 minutes, will lower your cortisol level. This removes one of the causes of a weaker immune system. In addition, the happiness hormone endorphins are released during exercise. Endorphins activate the NK cells in your body. These are the killers in our immune system. A lot of endorphins make your immune system a lot more powerful.
Endorphins have everything to do with vitamin P.
The P stands for fun. In addition to a healthy diet, exercise and sufficient vitamins C and D, vitamin P also makes your immune system stronger. It has everything to do with endorphins. Endorphins are not only released during exercise. Everything that makes you happy makes your body produce endorphins. So consciously plan activities every day that give your vitamin pleasure, no matter how miserable the situation (in this coronat time) can be. Here are some tips:
Even if you're cranky, this works. Do this with your partner, your girlfriend or your child. Look each other in the eye and just start laughing. In the beginning this will be difficult and your smile will be fake. Just keep smiling. There is a good chance that this smile will turn into a burst of laughter and that eventually you will both have tears running down your cheeks. Vitamin P guaranteed!
During a good conversation, endorphins are produced. So make time for this. After dinner, sit at the table with your partner for a while. Or invite (up to three) friends this weekend. Agree that you will not talk about corona for one evening. Talk about things that make you happy, initiate a laugh session like above or play a game.
Plan a walking session (every day) and hop every 50 meters. You will feel like a child again. For sure it will put a smile on your face. And not just with you, probably with your passers-by as well. Who cares!
Put on your favorite music and dance 'til you drop. Make crazy moves, wiggle your hips, hop and sing along. That will be a good portion of vitamin P.
Are you not a dancer and do you find it difficult? Then join a Studio Sculpt session. This is a training that starts with a short, simple dance choreography. Then you get exercises for the arms, legs, buttocks and core. So a full body workout. This workout is set to 90s music. That gives you a double dose of vitamin P. Have fun!
Studio Sculpt is a workout developed by Christina herself. Go to the workout here. This will remain available for 5 days † So get your sneakers ready, plan the training and feel happy.
Christina and Heidy are founders of the online workout platform Studio C Online.
As working moms, they know how busy life can be. With Studio C Online they therefore want to make it easier to plan sports in your life, because you can do it from home.
They offer great workouts full of variety and energy. Christina is a born entertainer. Her energy bursts through the screen. We often hear:“Christina's enthusiasm makes a workout over in no time”. “It's like Christina is in my living room.”
In this way they hope to motivate women again and again to KEEP training. This is so important. Not only for your physical health, but also for how you feel mentally.
Their studio stands for variation, variety and originality. Not a workout is the same. For example, you can choose from Studio HIIT, Studio Strength and Studio Fire. These are tough workouts, it's better not to do them every day. In addition, you can choose from Studio Barre, Studio Sculpt (dance and aerobics in combination with arm/buttocks/core), Studio Power Pilates and Studio Stretch &Relax. These are training sessions of a lower intensity that can be nicely alternated with the heavy training sessions.
And if you are a beginner, you can start very nicely with the lighter workouts and slowly build up to the heavy workouts.
Want to try a variation of HIIT and Barre? Just in your house or garden, whenever it suits you? Join the Free Workout Challenge. 5 workouts in 2 weeks. You will also receive a motivational email.
