Taking care of your health requires a keen awareness of the many factors that influence wellness. You may already know the importance of prioritizing your physical and mental health. Still, it’s rare for even the most health-conscious individuals to consider the specifics that influence the health of the immune system. A healthy immune system can keep you from contracting illnesses in public spaces, like the cold or the flu. This article covers overlooked factors that play a role in immunity so you can learn ways to keep your system strong.
Factors Influencing Immune Health
Your immune system is part of your physical health, but many nonphysical factors influence how it functions. For example, the level of stress you’re under, the environment you’re exposed to regularly, and how kindly you talk to yourself can all impact your immune system.
‘Immunosenescence’ refers to the decline in immune system function as a natural part of the aging process. As we enter adulthood and as we age, our immunity gradually declines. The decline is noted in the decrease of immune cells and the functional decrease of these cells that occur as we age.
When senescent cells cannot function as they once did, inflammation increases because these cells begin to pile up in the body. Other symptoms of immunity decline are signs of tissue damage and conditions linked to age.
Eat Nutritious Foods
Many things can be done to slow down immune system decline. What is currently understood in science and health fields is that a strong connection between our diets and immune health exists.
How we nourish our bodies can directly influence how susceptible we become to diseases and conditions related to immune system decline. Choosing anti-inflammatory foods such as vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins can significantly reduce inflammation and slow down immune system decline.
Increasing the omega-3 fatty acids we consume, such as by eating more fish, eggs, avocados, and healthy fats can also help to slow down these inflammatory responses.
Supplement With Micronutrients
The aging process can also slow down our ability to absorb food properly, which can negatively influence immunity health because we are not getting the nutrition we need, despite eating healthy foods. One way to stop this issue is to increase the micronutrients you consume with a medically supervised supplemental plan.
Our bodies need small increments of micronutrients for proper functioning. Your immune system needs these nutrients for support. Talk with a specialist who can help you determine which nutrients you may be deficient in and how to implement more micronutrients into your diet.
Reduce Calorie Consumption
Reducing the number of calories you consume also helps to slow down cellular aging. By reducing the number of calories we eat, we trigger the autophagy process, which sweeps the body of old cells that may trigger inflammation.
By deep cleaning our bodies, we eliminate inflammation-prone cells and turn on pathways for inflammation reduction. If you struggle with eating disorders or have a health condition that makes calorie counting unideal, choose other ways to strengthen your immune system.
Some individuals have adopted the practice of intermittent fasting to assist with this natural deep cleansing of the body. There are many intermittent fasting diets to consider if this style of eating appeals to your efforts of improving your immune system health.
The Bottom Line
Keeping your immune system strong is about more than exercising and eating healthy. Defining what healthy foods to eat and the nutrients your body needs, as well as establishing a supplemental plan for your unique makeup, are critical aspects to preserving your immune health and improving it in the long run. Speak with your doctor to learn how you can target the improvement of your body’s immune system.
