Natural killer cells and T-helper cells play an important role in both the innate and adaptive immune response.
Innate
The innate part of our immune system is the first line of defense against infections, working within minutes to hours of the infection.
Adaptive
The adaptive portion is the “trained” part. It remembers encounters with foreign agents and develops specific cells and molecules as part of the immune response.
Keeping your immune system strong involves a year-round lifestyle. If you get knocked down from a virus or infection, a more robust immune system may help you get back up faster.
Keeping your immune system strong involves a year-round lifestyle. If you get knocked down from a virus or infection, a more robust immune system may help you get back up faster.
Enrichment
Prebiotics and probiotics can support a healthy immune system and slow the growth of infectious organisms in the digestive system. Good sources of healthy bacteria are yogurt and other foods containing live cultures, and supplements.
Talk to your doctor before changing your diet.
Exercise
Regular exercise may provide an overall healthy “boost” to the immune system. In addition to keeping you in good shape, exercise may help your body fight off illnesses including the common cold.
Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
Destress
Excessive stress may lead to a depressed immune system, making the body less able to fend off everything from bacteria and viruses to diseases. Try mindfulness based stress reduction techniques, yoga, meditation, walking, and other gentle activities.
Sleep
Quality sleep is crucial for the immune system. People who do not get enough quality sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus and might take longer to recover. If you can’t get a full night’s sleep, it may help to squeeze in a 20 minute nap during the day.
White blood cells – also called leukocytes – are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from cells in the bone marrow. White blood cells account for only one percent of the cells in the five liters of blood in an adult’s body1. But don’t worry, most healthy individuals have more than enough white blood cells to get the job done. In each microliter of your blood, you have between 4,500 and 11,000 white blood cells2.
1https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/blood-basics.
2https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tv7034&lang=en-ca
When it comes to sleep, it turns out that sleep and the circadian system are strong regulators of immunological function3. Even a single night of poor sleep can impair the immune response and prolonged sleep deprivation can result in chronic inflammation resulting from a poorly regulated immune system. Sleep and the immune response have a reciprocal relationship4. Did you ever notice that when you are sick, you sleep more? Make sure you maintain a good sleep schedule to help your body maintain optimum immune system function and try to get some rest if you do get sick.
It is known that not all bacteria cause diseases. The human body is home to trillions of bacteria, which outnumber tissue cells 10 to one. In the digestive tract, these microbes are often considered probiotic or “good bacteria“ because they help with digestion. But their most important role is in supporting our immune system. Beneficial bacteria train the immune system to better distinguish between disease-causing pathogens and harmless ones.
