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The immune system plays a vital role in keeping us healthy and feeling well.
The immune system is made up of an intricate system of cells, tissues, proteins, and organs (1, 2). Besides the nervous system, the immune system is one of the most complex systems in the body (2). This system works together to protect us against viruses, bacteria, or other foreign substances by keeping them out of the body and if that doesn’t happen the immune works to find the invaders and destroys them (1, 2). If the immune system becomes weak and can’t protect the body against pathogens, we can become susceptible to minor illnesses or to potentially deadly diseases.
Discussing the immune system is a very large and multifaceted topic. Therefore, this will be a multi part series of posts in which our team will cover many different topics over the coming weeks. Topics will include nutrients that can help to boost the immune system, herbs that are immunoprotective, and lifestyle habits that can benefit a strong immune system.
The first line of defense against pathogens and to maintain a strong immune system is to live a healthy lifestyle (3). Which will be covered in more details in future posts. Here are some healthy habits to get things started (3):
Nutrition
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
If you consume alcohol, doing so in moderation.
Ensure adequate intake of all nutrients (minimum of RDA values)
Lifestyle
Exercise regularly
Getting an adequate amount of sleep
Minimizing stress
Quitting smoking, if applicable
Another focus of this blog series will be the role that stress can have on our immune system. Stress is difficult to define because what may be stressful for one person is not for another. Stress is the result when life events exceed your capabilities of managing it. Stress causes the body to produce the stress hormone cortisol. In brief instances, cortisol can boost the immune system by limiting inflammation. However, when stress becomes chronic and you have too much cortisol in your blood you are at higher risk for inflammation and reduced immune function. Stress also decreases the body’s number of lymphocytes. These are the white blood cells that help to fight off viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. In the future we will further explore ways to keep stress under control.
Our immune system is vital for our health and existence on this planet. There are simple measures we can take every day to stay healthy and well!
Written by: Leanne Skehan
Last reviewed and Updated: September 16, 2024
References
1. Immune System and Disorders. Medlineplus. Updated December 26, 2023. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/immunesystemanddisorders.html.
2. In brief: How does the immune system work? National Library of Medicine. Last updated June 6, 2023. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279364/
3. LeWine, H. How to boost your immune system. Harvard Health Publishing. March 28, 2024. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system