Learn about risk factors that can weaken your immune system and how to address them
Immunity is a key predictor of longevity. So if you want to age better—and live longer—naturally you need to keep your immune system functioning at a high level. Here are 5 signs that you may need to give your immune system a boost.
- You Love Sweets
- You Don’t Drink Enough Water
- You’re Overweight
- You Drink Well Water
- You Feel Stressed
Eating too much sugar can cause inflammation in your gut. Inflammation stresses the immune system to the point where it begins attacking itself and becomes less able to defend against real threats. According to one study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consuming 100 g of sugar can reduce white blood cells’ ability to kill bacteria for 5 hours.
It’s important to drink plenty of water in order to help your body flush out toxins. If you don’t, it can lead to inflammatory signaling that has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, according to a study published in the journal PLoS One. Most experts advise drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Overweight people don’t have more fat cells; they have bigger fat cells. The more your fat cells stretch, the more likely they are to leak. When this happens, immune cells will come to clean up. In the process, they will release inflammatory chemicals that can degrade your immune function.
If you drink well water that contains unsafe levels of arsenic (as an estimated 25 million Americans do), it could damage your immune response. For example, one study found that after exposure to swine flu, mice who had been drinking arsenic-tainted water developed suppressed immune systems and died. The mice who had been drinking clean water recovered completely.
When you feel stressed, the body releases a hormone called cortisol. Too much cortisol can compromise your immune system as well as cause premature aging and damage to virtually every system in your body.
Simple Ways to Boost Immunity
If any of the above risk factors apply to you, you will want to be especially proactive in supporting your immune system’s health. Here are some easy steps you can take right now:
Improve Your Nutrition: A wide variety of nutrients are needed for optimal immune function. Antioxidant compounds are especially important, as these nutrients help destroy free radicals that would otherwise cause inflammation. Try to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, as these foods are rich in antioxidants. You can also take a multivitamin or a supplement containing a high-potency antioxidant like Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Get More Exercise: Every time you exercise, the immune cells that attack bacteria get a boost. Though this boost only lasts a few hours, it can help keep you healthier than if you didn’t exercise at all. Research shows that as little as 30 minutes of walking per day can give this effect.
Take a Probiotic: In addition to cleaning up your diet and cutting back on foods that cause inflammation, you can also take a probiotic to help prevent another cause of gut inflammation, namely the proliferation of harmful gut bacteria. Renew Youth’s Probiotic Plus supplement contains 9 species of “good” bacteria plus a prebiotic to help them thrive.
Boost DHEA: The hormone DHEA is essential for a properly functioning immune system. It has been shown to block the formation of cancer cells and protect against the effects of excess cortisol. We offer prescription DHEA replacement therapy with dosages tailored to your specific needs.
Need Help?
If you would like more information about treatments to support your immune function, please contact Renew Youth today.