Boosting the immune system to help your body fight bacteria becomes increasingly important as you age, as your bodies do not function as well as they did when you were younger. Many older adults are depressed, and recent research indicates that depression can suppress the immune system, impairing the body's ability to battle foreign pathogens.
You can see your immune system at work as your body tries to heal itself after a cut. When you cut yourself, all kinds of bacteria enter into the open area, where various immune system cells immediately attack them. After a mosquito bite, you will see a red, itchy bump. This too is another visible sign that your immune system is working.
Occasionally a germ will get past the immune system, and you will catch a cold or the flu or worse.
How the Immune System Works
To begin, what is your immune system, and where is it located? And why is it important?
Your immune system is your body's first line of defense against infection and is actually found in several locations throughout your body, including your skin, bone marrow, thymus gland, lymph nodes, appendix, spleen, tonsils and adenoids.
If your lymph nodes are swollen, this usually indicates that your body is fighting an infection.
Your lymph nodes are found on the sides of your neck.
In your body's bone marrow, you create two different types of white blood cells called lymphocytes and phagocytes. There are two types of lymphocytes: B-cells and T-cells.
After these cells have matured in the bone marrow, they will circulate through the blood and the lymphatic system, looking for foreign invaders to attack and destroy.
There are several different types of phagocytes. Their primary function is to surround and engulf any foreign particles and digest them.
Vitamins and Minerals
First, you should eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables as they contain lots of antioxidants and vitamins which are important foods for boosting the immune system.
Vitamin C is a very important vitamin as it functions to protect your immune system cells.
Vitamin A is also important as it strengthens your mucous membranes, enhancing your body's ability to combat foreign invaders while increasing overall resistance to disease.
Produce with a dark color contains large amounts of powerful antioxidants known as flavonoids.
Foods such as broccoli, kale and berries are foods that help with boosting the immune system.
Regarding minerals, your ideal food source would be dried or raw seaweed.
Herbs That Can Help
There are several herbs you can take that can help to boost your immune system.
Echinacea is one herb that can help, although its method of action is not fully understood.
Echinacea contains polysaccharides, which function to inhibit a virus's ability to enter into and overwhelm cells.
Another herb that is thought to enhance immune system function is astragalus root.
It is thought that it's function is to increase production of the B-cells and T-cells.
It is also thought that astralgus root increases the production of chemical messengers known as interferons.
Interferons help to prevent replication of viruses in the body.
Ginseng is another herb that may help.
Two clinical trials indicated that volunteers taking ginseng, saw increases in the numbers of various immune cells, compared to those taking a placebo
Nurture Yourself
Taking the time to meditate can be an important tool for boosting the immune system.
In a recent 8-week study, it was learned that meditation can impede the progression of the HIV virus.
By reducing stress, the researchers in this study found that meditation played a role in strengthening the immune system, by increasing production of a type of white blood cell called the CD4 T-cells.
Those completing this study had more of this type of cell than those who did not participate.
Avoids Dietary Habits That Weaken the Immune System
One food that can weaken the immune system Is refined sugar.
Research indicates that consumption of 1/2 cup of sugar reduces the white blood cells' ability to kill germs by 40%.
This reduced functionality begins some 30 minutes after ingestion, and can last up to five hours.
You should stop drinking coffee or soft drinks that contain caffeine.
Although there have been studies indicating that caffeine is good for you, other studies indicate that it robs the body of needed vitamins and minerals, and can dehydrate you.
If you must drink coffee, try to add an extra 2 cups of water per cup of coffee.
Drinking too much alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your immune system.
First, it robs your body of important nutrients, plus it also limits your WBC's' ability to destroy germs.
Drinking the occasional drink probably doesn't affect your immune system, but drinking three or more does.
For most of us, we take our immune systems for granted, never giving it a second thought. However, it is a complex system helping your body combat millions of bacteria, microbes and viruses that are trying to enter into it.
As we age, our immune systems don't function at optimum capacity as they did when we were younger, making the need for boosting the immune system, a much greater priority than it was in our earlier years.
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