POOR NUTRITION
A nutrient-dense diet supports your body with the building blocks for defence, renewal and repair.
What you can do:
Manage blood glucose by eating more frequently. Ensure to include a complex carbohydrate source and quality protein source at each main meal. Foods high in sugar can weaken the ability of immune cells (namely white blood cells and lymphocytes).
Focus on immune-boosting ingredients when planning your meals, especially in the weeks before and after your laser treatments. Eating anti-inflammatory fats can influence recovery and buffer inflammation. In addition, naturally occurring omega-3 from oily fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and hemp seeds will support immunity and moderate inflammation.
Consider Food Intolerance Testing to rule out any ingredients that may be causing unnecessary inflammation, digestive impairment, and pulling vital resource from the immune system.
STRESS (PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL)
Any form of stress causes your adrenal glands to release a hormone called cortisol, the body’s natural pain reliever. However, too much can suppress your immune response, leading to an increased risk of inflammation and infection.
What you can do:
Engage in frequent, moderate exercise, stretching and mobility work. Exercise is a form of stress; however, it does promote immunity due to increased and more efficient circulation of immune cells through the body. Beyond a certain point, exercise can have the opposite effect on immunity, suppressing it and making you more susceptible to illness. We recommend 3-5 x 30-minute workouts per week throughout the course of your treatment to encourage detoxification, relieve emotional tension and increase immune cell function. Mobility work and stretching help aid lymphatic drainage, promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and ease tension from commonly tight areas, such as the shoulders, traps and lower back.
OVERUSING ANTIBIOTICS
Your gut is responsible for 70% of your immune system, and frequent use of antibiotics disrupts the delicate balance of gut bacteria that keeps immunity functioning optimally.
What you can do:
Replete beneficial gut bacteria with the use of probiotics, specifically lactobacillus acidophilus. For probiotics to colonise the gut, they need to ‘feed’ off specific molecules, commonly known as probiotics. Probiotics are naturally contained within foods such as; oats, lentils, bananas, garlic, asparagus, leeks and beans.
TOXIC LOAD
Toxins from the environment, the food we eat and products we use can burden the body by diverting energy to their elimination, subsequently hindering immunity.
What you can do:
Opt for organic foods, and ensure to wash fruits and vegetables before use. Review your cosmetic products for toxic and artificial ingredients that can put extra pressure on your system. 100% natural products are the most appropriate option during treatment. If you find that you’re sensitive to perfumes and environmental products such as dust and pollen, it could be a sign that you need additional detoxification support via specific supplementation.
LACK OF SLEEP
While you sleep, immune cells work especially hard to fight infection and break down foreign bodies – making sleep a crucial component of successful laser treatment. Conversely, with inadequate sleep, innate immune cell levels decrease, and inflammation increases, meaning you’ll be more likely to experience infection and poor healing.
What you can do:
Introduce magnesium-rich and calming foods into your diet, such as cacao, oats, whole grains, chickpeas, lentils, cinnamon, flaxseed and avocado. Introducing supplementation to support winding-down and entering into a deeper sleep can also aid recovery and prevention of infection. Magnesium, known as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’ is a simple addition to your evening routine via supplementation. Opt for a magnesium glycinate supplement, as this is the most easily absorbed by the body. Combinations including tryptophan, lemon balm and/or theanine can offer advanced support if you have insomnia or frequent sleep disturbance.
