As we are in the heart of winter, the holidays are over, and the stress of the end of the year is over…. but the flu, the common cold, RSV and COVID are still here and very bad in some areas. With it being a few weeks into the new year, how about we talk about a possible new leaf (or two 😊) to turn over to help our immune system to be healthier and work better?
Our immune system is complex and influenced by many factors. The only proven way to build immunity is through vaccines- also known as immunizations. As you will see over this 3-part series, there are a number of things that you can do to help give your immune system what it needs to be strong, healthy and function at its best.
The immune system requires balance and harmony to function well. It must be strong and sophisticated enough to fight off a variety of illnesses and infections, but not so strong that it overreacts unnecessarily. Our body is continually generating immune cells to replace, replenish and maintain its efficiency against the bacteria, viruses and germs that are all around us, every day.
The immune system is a collaboration of organs, cells, tissues and proteins that fight off germs and pathogens to protect you from getting sick. It naturally changes through our lifetime as we are exposed to bacteria, viruses and other microbes. It is through these exposures, as well as exposures through vaccines, that it learns to recognize those germs later in life and eliminate them.
When the immune system comes onto contact with a pathogen (virus, bacteria or foreign body) it triggers an immune response where the immune system releases antibodies. These antibodies attach to antigens on the pathogens and kill them.
It is known that age plays a big role in the immune system as well. Young children, exposed to infections for the first time, tend to be more symptomatic than adults; and the elderly find that their immune system simply can’t fight diseases as well as it did when they were younger. As we age, our immune response capabilities decrease which contributes to contracting more infections, diseases and even cancer. This could possibly be from a decreased T-cell count that arises from the thymus atrophying- which is a natural part of ageing.
Concerning the elderly, there is another factor to consider- micronutrient malnutrition- where a person is deficient in some essential vitamins and trace minerals that they get from their diet. Outside of those who do not have the ability to have fresh and healthy options for their food choices, this is seen more often in the elderly population due to their overall less consumption of food and less variety in their diet. It is important to maintain a good and healthy variety of foods as we age, and to make sure that the elderly we know and love have the ability to do so as well.
One consistent message that was in all of the sources that I read in compiling this information for you, was to be sure to keep current with all vaccines. A strong immune system means taking advantage of the best leg-up that we have to protect ourselves from harmful illnesses. Vaccines help to train your immune system to be smarter by helping it to learn to recognize and fight off certain disease-causing illnesses. It is much safer for your immune system to learn through vaccination than through infection with harmful germs.
Now that we have a very general understanding of the immune system and some factors that play a role in its function, join me in 2 weeks to begin learning what we are able to control concerning our own immune system. Over parts 2 and 3, we will learn dietary and lifestyle changes that are simple to do and have a great impact on our ability to stay healthy as we strengthen and improve our immune system!
References:
Related Post Links:
Naturally Boosting your Immune System Part 2
Naturally Boosting your Immune System Part 3
Next Time:
Stay tuned for my next blog in 2 weeks for a continuation of this topic in Part 2: A List of Foods & Eating Habits for your Immune System.
Author: Jen Hassaj | 1-24-2024
Comments