The immune system is our body’s protection against harmful organisms, diseases, infections, viruses, bacteria, and other environmental threats. If the immune system is healthy, it acts as a guard against all these potentially harmful agents. The Immune system is critical for our survival. 

The Immune System has two parts:

1. The Innate Immune System – always working to protect the body and doesn’t need any special attention to stop viruses.
2. The Acquired Immune System – before it can work properly, it first needs to be ‘primed’ and it is only effective after it has seen a potential infectious agent.

Tips to Having a Healthy Immune System

1. Eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Curb stress
5. Maintain a healthy weight.
6. Do not smoke.
7. Drink alcohol in moderation.
8. Generally: maintain a clean and healthy body, avoid viruses! Wash your hands frequently.

A person who has a healthy immune system is likely to defeat all pathogens or germ-causing diseases. However, boosting the cells of the immune system is very complicated. No one knows how many cells the immune system needs to function optimally.  What scientists do know is that the body is generating immune cells continually. A natural process of cell death called apoptosis removes extra cells automatically.

The immune system weakens as we age. This is one of the reasons the body is vulnerable to more infections and diseases later in life. Scientists have concluded it is related to a decrease in the T-cells that fight infection.

Catching the flu in winter?

Many people believe that the cold weather is responsible for colds and flus. Researchers have been studying the occurrence of the flu for a long time and what they found out is that normal exposure to moderate cold does not increase your vulnerability to viruses. The cold weather itself doesn’t cause the flu, but viruses do.

Health experts agree that winter is cold and flu season because people spend more time indoors and are in closer contact to other people who can pass on viruses. 

Factors that Can Lower the Immune System

Both indoor and outdoor air can weaken our immune system. According to research, indoor air pollution is even more of a problem than outdoor air pollution.

The chemicals used in paints, household cleaners, fungal spores, and smoke are all harmful to human health. The negative effect of all of these harmful substances potentially destructs indoor air quality. “Sick-building syndrome” is one of the causes of the weakening of the immune system. 

Research showed that structures near traffic intersections had higher levels of indoor pollutants. Another common problem in old structures and humid environments are the spores from mold.

The best way to eliminate harmful indoor air is by using natural products, from household cleaning materials, paints, gas stoves, up to organic textiles.

The Danger when the Immune System is Low

When the immune system is weak, the body is exposed to many organisms causing various risks of infection, viruses, and many life-threatening diseases.

This is also known as immunodeficiency disorder, it disrupts the body’s ability to secure itself against all these damaging factors. 

Signs of a weakened immune system:

1 Stomach problems – when the gut bacteria is not functioning well, the immune system is at risk. Stomach infections, diarrhea, and nausea are all signs of having a low immune system.

2 Always having a cold – having a cold is part of our lives but frequently catching one might be a sign that your body needs medical attention.

3 Slow healing of wounds – if wounds take a long time to heal, it may be due to a low immune system. 

4 Easily tired/low energy – you feel burned out and you are exhausted even if you sleep well. When the immune system is not functioning well, the body drains out faster and is not able to fight bacteria and viruses.

Learn more about personal health and wellness on the Mindful Owl blog today!