7 Ways You Might Be Harming Your Immune System

A robust immune system assists in keeping an individual healthy. Organs, tissues, proteins, and cells make up the immune system. These entire components join together to carry out bodily processes that keep bacteria and viruses away.  There are 7 ways you might be harming your immune system.

 If you are frequently getting sick you may need to think about your immune system. Your immune system is designed to persevere through all seasons.  Continuous exposure of the body to harmful substances may make your immune system too exhausted to fight disease-causing microorganisms.

Your immune system capability may be deteriorating due to the following seven reasons.

1.         Unhealthy Diet

2.         Lack of Exercise

3.         Dehydration

4.         Smoking

5.         Excessive Alcohol Intake

6.         Stress and Anxiety

7.         Lack of Sleep

1.      Unhealthy Diet

Unhealthy diets may be meals with a high content of salt, fats, and sugars.  The immune system responds to high fat and calorie diet similar to a bacterial infection.  Eating unhealthy food eventually deteriorates the capability of the immune system. Inflammation towards the inborn immune system deteriorates and may lead to the high susceptibility of diseases such as diabetes.

It is critical to ensure that your daily meals are low in fats and sugars while you increase intake of fruits and vegetables. Various websites such as Vitaral offer free nutritious meals and presentation that can help you to get started. The nutrition coaches show you how to prepare meals with zero added oils to help you live a long and quality life. 

1.      Lack of Exercise

Physical inactivity is associated with several lifestyle diseases such as obesity.  Researchers have shown that moderate regular exercises lead to decreased risks of certain disorders.  Medical studies have also ascertained that adults who participate in physical activity for 1-2 hours per day have a reduced risk of contracting certain diseases compared to inactive individuals.  You can start by learning about the best food to eat to avoid lifestyle illnesses and the best exercises for your body.

2.      Dehydration

Scarcity of particular resources in the body can affect the immune function. Water conserves the osmotic state of the immune system.  During times of dehydration, the response rate of the immune system is decreased.  Keeping the body hydrated helps to flush out toxins from body cells. Aim to take at least 2-3 liters of water each day.  If not plain water, fruit smoothies such as Mango Magic or Tropical Tangle can help to keep you full and hydrated.

3.      Smoking

Over a third of world population smoke tobacco. Smoking affects adaptive and innate immunity. Cigarette smoking has far-reaching consequences on individual health. Smoking can lead to conditions such as respiratory diseases, heart disorders, allergies including cancer.  Cigarette smoke affects almost every organ in the human body. Its adverse impacts may impede the healing process by weakening your immune system and increase susceptibility to disease. 

The process of quitting smoking is a step towards living a better lifestyle. There are various programs that can assist you in the journey.  Exercising can help you fight cigarette cravings and focus more on living healthily. 

4.      Excessive Alcohol Intake

Alcohol abuse has detrimental effects on the immune system. Binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption in a single setting lead to immune deficiency. The function of white blood cells which are responsible for fighting infections is affected lowering your disease resistance.   Physicians associate excising drinking with immune-deficiency adverse health effects such as pneumonia and other infections.

It is advisable to move towards more healthy drinks especially with the increased risk of contracting lifestyle diseases. Healthy drinks do not have to be boring especially health nutrition coaches that can help you prepare free nutritious and sweet fruit drinks.  However, if you have to consume alcohol take no more than 3 units a day.

5.     Stress and Anxiety

In over 40 million people that suffer anxiety, most experience symptoms of sickness.  Being stressed and anxious make the body to release hormones that may cause physical illness and weakens the immune system.  When anxious, your brain puts the body in alert despite not being in danger triggering physical symptoms.  According to Harvard Women’s Health Watch, anxiety can lead to nausea, frequent urination, and diarrhea. Cortisol, a stress hormone weakens the immune system by decreasing the number of disease-fighting antibodies. Stress leads to increased pressure on the gut causing feelings of nausea and diarrhea. You should take measures to reduce stressors in your life by engaging in exercises, body-relaxing activities and learning how to prepare nutritious meals rich in vitamins and minerals to boost your immune system.

6.     Lack of Sleep

Sleep deprivation can negatively affect your immune system.  Research studies confirm that people that lack quality sleep are more likely to acquire infections with exposure to viruses.  Lack of sleep also prolongs the recovery process when sick.  Lack of quality sleep impacts the synthesis of protective cytokines as well as antibodies that fight diseases. 

     7.  Summing Up

A weak immune system can lead to detrimental effects on our bodies. Becoming health conscious is the initial step towards having a stronger immune system.  It is important to learn health and nutrition tips and ways to live a healthy life.  and don't forget as we said at the start,  There are 7 ways you might be harming your immune system. 

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