If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s the importance of keeping your immune system battle-ready, especially now that the weather is starting to cool off and our daily routines are returning to some semblance of normal. However, for many people, keeping your immune system in tip-top shape sounds easier said than done. After all, the human immune system is amazingly complex and works to keep your body safe and healthy in a number of different ways. So the question remains—how can you support your immune system during these colder months and beyond? The first step is understanding how your immune system works and the various factors that affect it. Â
How Does Your Immune System Work?
As you already know, your immune system’s main role is to protect your body from being harmed by pathogens like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
This isn’t a localized system, rather it is spread all throughout your body. Your immune system includes a network of cells, proteins, organs, and tissues that all work together to protect your body. When a pathogen or foreign substance enters your body through your skin, respiratory system, or digestive tract, your immune system is alerted so it can get to work by activating at least one of its two parts—the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system.Â
The Innate Immune System
Your innate immune system is your body’s first line of defense. Its main role is to protect your body from any pathogens or foreign entities that might try to harm you. The majority of this part of your immune system is composed of physical barriers like your skin, which works to keep germs and other pathogens from entering your body in the first place. On the occasion that intruders do get past your skin, your innate immune system has tools like mucus, anti-bacterial fluids like tears and sweat, and specialized cells that it can call to arms to fight off and neutralize pathogens quickly. The specialized cells that comprise your innate immune system are designed to handle every invader that may enter your body. Because of this, they work on a broad level, which means they cannot distinguish between different types of pathogens.Â
The Adaptive Immune System
Unlike innate immunity, which gets to work protecting your body as soon as you are born, adaptive immunity takes time to fully develop. This system recognizes, studies, and responds to pathogens as you are exposed to them. After exposure, the cells that make up your adaptive immune system get to work creating antibodies to help protect you during future exposures to the same pathogen. Then, the next time your body is exposed to that specific pathogen, your adaptive immune system recognizes it and immediately gets to work before your innate immunity kicks in.  Â
6 Factors That Influence Your Immunity
Now that you know the basics of how your immune system works, it’s important to understand that its ability to function optimally is impacted by a number of different factors so that you can get to work supporting your immune system.Â
1. Age
Your immune system is constantly changing throughout your life. At birth, the human body only has the innate immune system to protect itself until it has been exposed to enough pathogens to start forming adaptive immunity. This is why infants are more susceptible to having more severe outcomes when exposed to foreign intruders that adults could easily fight off. With that being said, your immune system doesn’t necessarily continue to become stronger and stronger as you age. In fact, as you approach age 60, your immune system begins to change again and slows the production of certain immune cells. As a result, your immune system becomes weaker and you are less likely to be able to fight off pathogens. Â
2. Environment
The environment around you presents a wide spectrum of things that can affect your immune system. Factors like chemicals in drinking water, air pollution, water pollution, exposure to the sun, and the type of food you eat are just a few of the ways your environment can influence your immunity. Sometimes, your environment may expose you to pathogens that will help build your adaptive immune system. However, exposure to things like air or water pollution can lead to toxins building up in your body, which over time can negatively impact the way your immune system functions. Â
3. Stress
Chronic stress can impact nearly every part of your body—your brain, your heart, your gut, and even your immune system. When you get stressed, your body releases a hormone known as cortisol which can impact your immune system in a couple of different ways. Biologically, the frequent release of cortisol into your bloodstream can suppress your immune system by lowering the number of certain immune cells. Additionally, stress can impact your immune system in a more indirect way if you are prone to coping in unhealthy ways, such as smoking, drinking, or overeating.Â
4. Diet
Just like every other part of your body, your immune system needs certain nutrients in order to function properly. Because of this, the food you choose to consume can directly impact the way your immune system functions. In order to help your immune system be prepared to protect your body, it’s important to eat a diet that provides your body with all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs. Vitamins such as C and D as well as minerals like zinc, potassium, selenium, and iron are especially important when it comes to immune health because they help grow immune cells and keep them functioning as they should. Â
5. Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is important for many aspects of your health, especially your immune system. While you’re sleeping, your body rejuvenates itself and your cells get restored. During this time, small proteins known as cytokines are released by your immune system. These proteins play an important role in not only boosting your immune response but also helping to manage the way your body responds to stress. Less sleep means less production of cytokines, which will ultimately have a negative impact on your immune system.
6. Genetics
Yes, your genetics also play a role in your overall immunity. In fact, research has found that roughly 75% of your immune system is influenced by your genetic makeup. This means that the strength of your body’s natural immune response is at least partially determined by the genes you inherit from your parents.Â
Live the #NewEarthLife
Understanding how your immune system works is the first step toward giving it the support it needs to keep you feeling your best. Now that you are armed with knowledge, it’s time to start living the #NewEarthLife by taking small steps that will give your immune system a healthy hand.Â