Immune

The immune system maintains homeostasis by responding to foreign microbes that enter the body and eliminate them. Several regulatory mechanisms function to terminate responses to foreign antigens, returning the immune system to a basal state after the antigen has been cleared, and to maintain unresponsiveness, or tolerance, to self-antigens. In this way there is a constant harmony maintained between the body tissues, its immediate immune response and the white blood corpuscles (WBCs) in protecting our body from invasion by external bacteria and viruses that are causing illness and thus attempting to reestablish homeostasis.

There are many ways to strengthen an immune system through eating lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, exercise, regulating vitamin D, stress management, using certain cooking oils, limit alcohol intake and safe health practices.

You can maintain a healthy immune system by eating a well balanced diet. Cutting most of the junk foods from your diet and eat moderate portions from all major food groups at least 3 or 4 times per day is an excellent start. A diet high in protein is beneficial because lean protein red meats actually contain minerals (zinc) for production of wbcs to add in fighting infections.

Including adequate servings of fruit and vegetables is desirable by boosting vitamin C, A and E intake. Approximately 5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day is recommended. Supplementing with multivitamins or mineral supplements can be helpful under the supervision of a physician.

Exercising regularly can do a number of things for the immune system including: excreting infectious organisms from the body through urine and sweat, slows down the release of the stress hormone cortisol and increases blood flow to warn the body of threats to the immune system.

Research indicates that monitoring vitamin D levels can be beneficial. Higher levels of vitamin D boost the immune system and research indicates that lower levels of vitamin D increases the risk for the common cold and seasonal flu. Vitamin D supplements and sun exposure can be helpful.

Stress management is a very important way to enhance the immune system by getting adequate rest, doing light exercise, yoga and/or meditation, playing music or playing with a pet. Stress can affect the wbc counts making the potential for disease more likely. Adequate sleep is important. Inadequate rest can weaken the immune system because the body rebuilds during sleep.

Cooking foods with healthier oils is helpful. It is recommended that canola and olive oil are the healthiest type of oils to use and therefore boosts the immune response. Caution with the quantity of oils is always recommended to reach a good balance.

Limiting alcohol is another way to boost the immune system. Excessive alcohol intake is toxic to the immune system cells and can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections.

Practice safe sex. Sexually transmitted viral infections such as HIV, hepatitis and herpes simplex can dramatically lower the body’s ability to fight off infections because these diseases attack the cells that maintain homeostasis in immunity and use of white blood cells. Practicing safe sex or abstinence can help reduce your chances of contracting these diseases.