Immune system of the human body is its first line of defence against illnesses and diseases. The primary function of the immune system is to fight and protect the body against any incursion by any foreign entity be it disease causing bacteria, parasites, pathogens, viruses or more. A weak or impaired immune system can lead to frequent bouts of illnesses; the said condition is called autoimmune deficiency. The immune system of the human body is basically made up of different types of cells, proteins, tissues and organs. When the body is under attack by any disease causing bacteria or virus the job of the immune system is to respond by producing antibodies to fight the said disease and to keep the body safe and healthy. For example when any disease causing pathogen enters the blood stream, the work of WBCs or white blood cells which are part of the immune system is to ingest and destroy them.
How the immune system works?
The working of the immune system is very specialised, elaborate and sophisticated. The entire mechanism of fighting pathogens may include identifying, adapting, creating antibodies, destroying and then again turning off the immune response. The response may also include creation of antitoxins to clear any toxins released by the pathogens. One of the most important components of the immune system is leukocytes or the white blood cells. Leukocytes are produced and stored in many locations such as lymph nodes, bone marrow and more throughout the body. They circulate throughout the body by lymphatic vessels and blood vessels seeking and destroying any alien pathogen. The two types of Leukocytes are phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes help destroy invading pathogens whereas lymphocytes helps the body remember earlier attacks and pathogens and thus provide protection.
Food items that Boost Immunity
Immunity can be defined in layman terms as the inner strength of the body or the body’s ability to heal itself. There are a number of ways in which an individual can strength his immune system but consuming a proper diet ranks the first amongst all the methods. Antioxidants stimulate the immune system of the body hence food items rich in antioxidants are often termed as very beneficial and even superfoods. Fresh fruits and vegetables intake that can supply the body with the required amount of vitamin C, E, A will also boost immunity. Other minerals and nutrients that boost immunity are zinc, selenium, Omega-3 fatty acids and Probiotics (good bacteria). There are also a number of herbs which are believed to strengthen the immune system of the body naturally. Herbs such as echinacea, goldenseal, astragalus, garlic, ginseng, licorice, fennel and others help boost the immune system naturally. Other than the natural food items there are also a number of supplements available in the market that claim to boost the immune system.
Other tips to boost immunity naturally
The better the overall physical and mental health of a person, the healthier the immune system will be. Other than the diet there are also few other factors that can affect the immunity of a person both positively and negatively. Maintaining personal hygiene like washing hands before eating can help boost the immunity of a person. Curtailing use of alcohol and tobacco can also help. Cooking food thoroughly especially meat and poultry products will destroy bacteria beforehand. Exercising regularly and maintaining optimal weight can also help boost immunity in an individual. Cutting down on sugar intake and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle is another way to keep your immune system healthy. Last but not the least take ample amount of rest, get enough sleep and try and remain stress free to boost immunity levels.
