Staying in Touch®
Hello, and welcome to the February 2025 newsletter. Have you managed to remain in good health so far during this winter season? It’s getting to be more of a challenge with new forms of infectious disease joining flu, COVID, pneumonia, and a host of other illnesses.
Your continued good health depends on your immune system’s ability to fend off these threats. This month’s issue focuses on how you can support your immune system.
Once again, the good news is that regular massage is one of the best ways to strengthen your immune system.
Two of the most important contributors for maintaining a strong immune system—getting a good night’s sleep and handling stress—are benefits of regular massage.
If you have any questions on how massage supports better health, just ask at your next appointment.
Get healthy and stay happy. Enjoy your month; see you soon for your next massage!
Whether it’s for your favorite Valentine, a friend, family member,
or special loved one, a massage gift certificate is a wonderful
way to let someone know how much you care about them.
Click Gift Certificates to order yours today!
5 Ways Massage Impacts the Immune System
by Theresa Lalim, CMT
Especially during the winter, people look for ways to boost their immune systems to fight against colds and influenza. This year, having a robust immune system is more important than ever.
We all know that a balanced diet and a good night's sleep are essential for staying healthy. But what else can we do? Consider getting regularly scheduled massages.
Five ways massage can improve your immune system
1. Massage is known for promoting increased circulation and lymphatic flow, which helps move healthy nutrients throughout your body and to filter metabolic waste.
2. Studies show that massage can increase the level of lymphocytes, which are the cells that help the immune system fight off harmful substances in the body.
3. Stress has been shown to be a significant immunosuppressor. Massage is one of the best ways to reduce stress by reducing the level of cortisol, a stress hormone.
4. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, pain has measurable negative effects on immunity. Massage has an enormous impact on decreasing pain, which will make it easier for your body to fight off an illness.
5. Massage is great for mental health. Your mind is a direct link to your body and a healthy mind promotes a healthy body.
Source: centracare.com
Healthy Habits: Enhancing Immunity
• The immune system is the body's way of protecting itself from infection and disease, including chronic diseases.
• Your immune system fights everything from cold and flu viruses to serious conditions such as cancer.
• A healthy lifestyle offers many benefits including enhancing your immunity.
See six tips below:
1. Eat well— Eating well means emphasizing plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and fat–free or low–fat milk and milk products. Eating well also means limiting saturated fats, salt, and added sugars. ...
2. Be physically active— Regular physical activity helps you feel better, sleep better, and reduce anxiety. Combined with eating well, physical activity can help a person maintain a healthy weight. ...
3. Maintain a healthy weight— Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more in adults, is linked to impaired immune functions.
Safe ways to help maintain a healthy weight include reducing stress, eating healthy foods, staying within your daily calorie needs, getting enough sleep, and engaging in regular physical activity. ...
4. Get enough sleep— Scientific evidence is building that sleep loss can negatively affect different parts of the immune system. This can lead to the development of a wide variety of disorders.
5. Quit smoking— Smoking can make the body less successful at fighting disease. Smoking increases the risk for immune system problems, including rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Avoid too much alcohol— Over time, excessive alcohol use can weaken the immune system.
Source: cdc.gov
Stress and Immune System Function
Stress can reduce the number of natural killer cells or lymphocytes in the body, which are needed to fight viruses, according to the American Psychological Association.
A review of studies in Current Opinion in Psychology found that stress can cause the immune system to produce an inflammatory response, which can be temporarily beneficial for fighting germs. However, if inflammation is persistent and widespread, it can contribute to chronic diseases, including the buildup of plaque on your arterial walls. This is just one of the many factors at play in the complex relationship between stress and your heart.
Chronic stress can produce higher-than-normal levels of the hormone cortisol. This can hamper the body’s anti-inflammatory response and cause continual infections, according to recent immunology research studies.
If you’re dealing with stress you can’t seem to shake, take time to identify the sources and find ways to avoid or cope with them. You’ll be doing your immune system—and health—a favor.
Source: health.umms.org
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have,
and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.
— Carl Sandburg
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, consult a physician.
© 2025 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, consult a physician.
© 2024 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.