Top Nutrition Tips for a Strong Immune System
Ways to Keep your Body Healthy and Happy with Natural solutions
Mar 21, 2009
The human body is constantly under siege from infectious sources outside the body. The immune system is the first line of internal defense against attack from viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi.
How the Immune System Works
It works through several stages, primarily using the white blood cells. In particular, a group of cells called phagocytes - which literally means "eater cells" - engulf harmful bacteria and destroy them. Other cells critical to the immune response are the B and T lymphocytes, which produce and release antibodies, and seek out the infected cells to alert the phagocytes to destroy them.
Ironically, symptoms produced by infection are actually signs of the immune response. A sore throat, for example, becomes sore as the immune system instructs cells in the throat to die off, to kill the infection before it spreads. All the infected cells die, along with nearby healthy cells, which causes the feeling of soreness.
How can Lifestyle Changes Strengthen the Immune System?
Modern-day, stressful lifestyles are not conducive to a healthy immune system. Excessive intakes of sugars, caffeine, alcohol, teamed with not enough sleep, smoking and lack of exercise can all weaken the immune system which allows opportunistic infections entrance to the body.
A nutrient-rich diet is perhaps the best thing one can do for the immune system. Plenty of green vegetables, which contain high amounts of Vitamin C and others will increase response time of the immune system and strengthen overall health. Drinking enough water is also fundamental to good health. The body loses fluids through urine and perspiration and these need to be replaced on a regular basis. A regular flow of water also makes it difficult for harmful bacteria to breed inside the body. Warm water with lemon has shown to be the most effective, according to an article by Angela Epstein, writer of "Your Perfect Health Day". Lemon is a superb cleanser and has many antiseptic properties to flush out the system, particularly the liver.
Cutting back on refined sugars and processed junk foods also is essential in order to allow the body the chance to fight infection. Sugar has an incredible effect on the immune system and actually depresses it by increasing the blood sugar index which in turn slows the immune response to a crawl. Speed of response is imperative, as essentially it is a race between the immune system and disease that determines the body's ability to fight infection.
Getting enough sleep is also crucial in maintaining general health. A study conducted at the California Human Population Lab in the 1970s determined the habits that positively affected quality of life - and sleep topped the list, followed by exercise. Exercising promotes a good mood, which has been shown to encourage health. The study also lists weight watching, not smoking, and moderating alcohol intake as positive habits for good health.
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