Are You Good to Your Immune System?

You really need to do some changes in your lifestyle in order to achieve and maintain a healthier state of body and mind. If you cannot change your lifestyle, you need to work on your emotional stability and thought habits.

The test that you just took is based on the levels of stress and negative emotions in your life. 

Did you know...

When under stress, the Fight or Flight response is activated and the priorities of the body’s defense systems change. Rather than using the body’s energy resources for growth, visceral processes and inner protection of the body against bacteria and viruses, a very large portion of the resources go to the outer defense system to allow us to fight or escape from the dangerous situation.

Among other things, as a result of an activated Fight or Flight response, the immune system suffers because a lot of energy resources are taken away from it. (If your immune system is fighting an infection and a bear starts chasing you, your body will try to save you from the bear first, thus sending all energy to support the Flight or Fight response.)

Our bodies do not make the difference between real danger or just a worry that we might be late for work. When worry and fear is present, the body takes it as a signal for danger and keeps the Fight or Flight response activated.

Some stress is good and your body is made to handle it. However, if you constantly live under stress, all the visceral processes, the growth mechanisms and your immune system greatly suffer, as they do not have enough resources to do their job. A weakened immune system would not be able to protect you so well from the numerous bacteria and viruses that surround us and your health would be potentially in danger.

What causes the immune system to weaken?

Your immune cells can lose some of their protective effects when your body is constantly battling negative health habits such as a poor diet, little sleep, and too much stress. As such, it`s not surprising that doctors frequently recommend certain lifestyle changes as a way to optimize the function of your immune system. 

What`s the most important lifestyle change to boost immunity?

Reduce stress. A steady cascade of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, negatively impacts the body`s ability to stay well. Findings show that reducing levels of stress through relaxation techniques, daily exercise, and coping skills helps your body maintain physical and emotional health.

What else can I do to boost immunity?

Get plenty of sleep. Prolonged sleep deprivation wears down immune protection while getting adequate rest each night helps to boost your defenses. Try to aim for 7 to 8 hours sleep for the best immune function.