Immunity Booster
One of the keys to good health is an active immune system of the body. If it performs in maximum efficiency then we are assured of complete protection from the attacks of bacteria and other alien viruses and parasites.
The immune system's first line of defence is right on the surface of the skin (oils) and in the mouth (saliva), eyes (tears) and nasal orifices. Here, the system tries to repel foreign and threatening organisms. Any getting past the defence mechanisms of the mouth are attacked by stomach acid and intestinal bacteria.
Immunity Kinds
There are primarily two kinds of immunity :
- Innate Immunity
- Surface Barriers or Mucosal Immunity
- Normal Flora
- Phagocytes
-
Adaptive or Acquired Immunity
- Cell-mediated Immunity
- Humoral Immunity
Remedies for Immunity Booster
There are in general seven major immune boosting and cancer prevention tools that are both easy to adopt and accessible to virtually everyone
Diet
Increase your daily intake of anti-oxidants and minerals that promote immunity and support the cancer-fighting mechanisms of the body. The second is to follow a low-fat diet.
- Ensure that you avoid all saturated fats and as much polyunsaturates as possible with the exception of some fish oil such as tuna, mackerel etc whose oils can actually improve immune activity.
- Ensure that fruits and vegetables form an important part of your diet as these contain Citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, dark leafy greens, broccoli, spinach, red and orangesweet peppers are all good sources of Vitamin C and/or beta carotene.
- Two vital ingredients in your balanced diet are garlic and yoghurt both of which stimulate the macrophages (the cells that eat the invaders) and other cells targeting such things as viruses and cancer cells.
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol. The consumption of alcohol and smoking are extremely toxic to the immune system though it is said that a little wine can boost resistance. Both should be avoided.
Culinary herbs
A wide array of herbs have powerful immune boosting and cancer-prevention properties. The most prominent of these are garlic, cumin, turmeric, Japanese green tea, licorice, cinnamon, mint and chamomile.
Exercise
Regular, but moderate, exercise is vital in boosting the immune function as it increases the blood-flow and, thereby, accelerates the movement of immune cells around the body. This, in turn, will increase the production of endorphins which create an all round feeling of well-being.
Stress reduction techniques
Stress affects immunity in a number of ways, but primarily through the endocrine system by causing the secretion of immune depressing hormones. Dealing with stress effectively is therefore essential in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Among the best ways of doing that is exercise, meditation, and relaxation techniques.
Sleep
It is another important factor in bringing your immune system to its maximum efficiency for, in the deepest sleep, the pituitary gland increases production of the growth hormone which then stimulates the thymus gland.