The human body has its own unique way of fighting against diseases. But sometimes it fails when a disease causing microorganism invades the body and causes disease. Developing our immunity is beneficial but the capacity to do so has been proved to be difficult. The immune system is a system and not a single unit. To perform well, it needs stability and compatibility. Researchers still try to solve the complexity and relationship of the immune system as there are no scientifically proven associations between lifestyle and immunity. The effects of lifestyle on the immunity is not a mystery and must not be speculated. Researchers study the effects of food, physical exercise, generation, mental stress,medical supplements and other factors on the immune system. Only preliminary results have emerged and still researchers try to understand how the immune system functions. Accepted healthy-living procedures are a good way to commence bestowing our body’s immune system the major advantage. Primary task to strengthen the defense mechanism of the body is to select a healthy lifestyle. Attending common good-health instructions is the one best thing we can do to keep our immune system sturdy and healthy.
Our body performs better when safeguarded from hazardous concerns and fortified by healthy-living implementations like :
1. Quit smoking
Smoking is bad for the human body in many ways. It damages the liver, lungs, causes cancer, pneumonia, ear infections and bronchitis etc. It reduces the body’s immune system and paves way for the growth of many microorganisms. Nicotine in tobacco makes one addictive to it and causes harm to the body. Thus, smoking incapacitates the immune system by debilitating antibodies and cells which protect against foreign invaders. Carcinogenic chemicals like Carbon monoxide in cigarettes smoke progress through a smoker’s blood to reach the various organs to cause vandalize to the immune system. Low amount of oxygen reaches the muscles, brain, heart and other organs. Lungs fail due to the narrowing of the lung tract and formation of excess mucus in the lungs thus causing lung infection. Increase in blood pressure and heart beat occur by smoking chemicals carried by the blood. The immunity does not function normally and the body becomes more prone to infections like influenza.
2. Eating diet rich food
Eating diet foods will provide our body with the beneficial nutrients our immune system needs. Boosting natural fruits and healthy vegetables consumption enhances antibody prevention in the body. The Pneumovax vaccine safeguards from Streptococcus pneumonia, which is a common disease affecting adults. Probiotics appendages lower the infestation of respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Brewed milk products have also proved to minimize the respiratory problems. Diet rich foods does not mean that you have to diet yourselves to increase the immunity but simple nutritious foods are enough to boost the immunity response in the body. Foods like garlic, ginger, spinach, citrus fruits, turmeric and green tea help to boost the immunity.
3. Exercising regularly
Exercise helps to lower our chances of forming heart diseases and keeps our bones healthy and strong. Physical exercises may help to flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways reducing our chances of being affected by any illness. It causes alterations in antibodies and white blood cells to circulate more fastly so that they could find illness to prevent infections. The rise in body temperature during and after exercise will obstruct bacteria growth and support the body to fight infection more rapidly. It lowers the release of stress-related hormones which increases the chance of illness. Even though exercise is good for the health we must not overdo it. Heavy exercises will decrease the white blood cells circulating in the body and attenuate stress-related hormones. Normal exercises include bicycling, walking daily for about half an hour a day and hitting the gym every day etc. Exercise makes one feel better about oneself. However there are no hard facts to prove that immune supplements taken along with exercise lowers the risks of illness. Exercise helps us to sustain an ideal body weight which helps to maintain the immunity of the body.
4. Maintain normal blood pressure
Throughout the day it is normal for the blood levels to change depending on our moods. If we are satisfied or sleepy our blood pressure tends to be lower and if we are sad or worried the blood pressure soars higher. This is due to the T cells which maintain the blood pressure of the body. Fluctuations in the blood pressure also causes some hormones to be secreted into the blood which in turn affects the immunity of the body. To those with high blood pressure heart diseases and coronary diseases affect them and to those with low blood pressure revulsion, megrim and vomiting occur.
5. Drinking only moderate alcohol
Alcohol is good for health but it should be in moderation. Alcohol suppress the metabolic activities of the body thereby reducing the immunity of the body. Regular intake of alcohol also affects all the organs of the body. Alcohol causes mood swings and creates mental imbalances in the body. So it is advised to drink a moderate level of alcohol.
6. Get enough sleep
Sleep bolster the body functions and helps in the proper functioning of the body. When we sleep all the parts of the body take some rest with the exception of a few. Inadequate sleep increases the stress and blood pressure of the body. It also affects the mind resulting in several psychiatric problems. Sleep gives peace to the body and increases the immunity.
7. Avoiding infection by being hygienic
Being hygienic is the best way to increase the immunity of the body. It surpasses all the other ways to increase immunity. Hygienic means living in a clean environment devoid of any harmful microbes. It also means physical cleanliness that means abstaining from cigarettes, alcohol and other narcotic drugs.
8. Regular medical tests
We must consult a physician and undertake a thorough full medical checkup of our body once a year. Having regular medical tests will let us know the condition of our body and helps us to defend from any discrepancies in the body. People at all ages like adults, children and toddlers are bound to have a full medical check up done every year.
9. Living stress free life
Nowadays human lives are full of stress because this is a fast paced world. Maintaining physical health is a great concern now and many people do not know how. We must be free to consult a psychologist and get advices from him pertaining any issues. Refraining from work and going for recreational visits will also help us to get peace in our mind.
10. Cutting down sugars
Sugar is harmful for our health but when taken in moderation it imparts good flavour to our health and is beneficial. Excess sugar alters the metabolic rate in the body and also decreases the level of insulin thus causing diabetes. We must add no more than two or three teaspoons of sugar a day.