DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT STILL HAVE A WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM? Find out what might be affecting your immunity adversely.

Eating “healthy” food, consuming herbs, staying indoors, you might think you are doing everything right, but few factors can still be affecting your immune system adversely. What factors can weaken your immune system? What should you do to build a stronger immunity? 

Since the arrival of COVID19, my mother has been stocking up on various medicines, fruits, and herbs being pushed by many nutritionists and pharma companies that can help me boost immunity. If you too, have been actively following the news, social media, and COVID19 articles, the experts in the country time and again have been asking people to start building one’s immunity against the disease. Since there are no vaccines and medicines to fight the disease, if you care about your and your family’s health, it is about time each one of us starts working on building a balanced immune system!

There are things we all are doing right during the lockdown, like working on our culinary skills, enjoying great content on Netflix, picking up a hobby to feed our creative streak, and most importantly, staying indoors to stay safe. But some of these lifestyle patterns that we have picked up might be harmful to our immune system. Read on to see what the common mistakes are, that you might be making.

Ignoring Nutritional Deficiencies

The food we eat plays a vital role in managing the physical and mental well-being. People who are more conscious about their eating habits when it comes to managing their food generally stick to the basic intake of proteins, greens, and low-calorie diets. However, nutrition is a concept deeper than that. There are numerous micronutrients, macronutrients, complex vitamins, and minerals that are needed for the optimal performance of your body’s natural defense system. The most common nutritional deficiencies in India being – Iron deficiency, Iodine deficiency, Vitamin-D deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Calcium deficiency, Vitamin-A deficiency, and Magnesium deficiency, absence, or imbalance of any of these can lead to chronic diseases.

Not Getting Enough Sleep 

Researchers have proved that adequate sleep helps the T-cells in our body fight off infection. People underestimate the importance of sleep. While poor sleep has both short-term and long-term consequences on our physical and mental health, less than 5 hours of quality sleep per night regularly has been associated with higher mortality. Lack of sleep creates a constant flight-or-fight response with increased stress hormones and release of adrenaline. Poor sleep can increase inflammation, blood pressure, insulin resistance, cortisol, weight gain, cardiovascular diseases, and so on.

Stress, Anxiety & Depression

Stress, Anxiety, and Depression have a complex relationship with the immune system. When we undergo stress, whether it’s the loss of a job or a personal tragedy, our body responds by sending defense signals to the endocrine system, which then triggers the release of various hormones designed to prepare the body for an emergency. In doing that, the hormones, particularly cortisol, also negatively affects the immune system. Increased levels of cortisol can decrease white blood cells and inflammation. Dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression systematically helps improve the immune strength, which further helps fight off illness and infections.

Overuse of Antibiotics 

Did you know that taking antibiotics can destroy the normal, healthy bacteria in your gut? Researchers have found that antibiotics in many cases also weaken the immune response of the body. This is the reason why most antibiotics result in the dysfunction of the digestive system. Consuming non-prescribed antibiotics to get rid of various symptoms is another major factor that can and do affect your immune system.

Sedentary Lifestyle 

While the effect of physical activity on the immune system depends on the intensity and frequency of exercise, most physical activities result in innate immune regulation. The anti-inflammatory response created by regular, moderate physical activity can help the body to protect itself against chronic inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. A sedentary lifestyle can make one more prone to cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, weight issues, insulin resistance, osteoporosis, and mental health issues, resulting in a suppressed immune function.

Smoking & Alcohol 

Light drinking is not only acceptable, but a glass of wine has its health benefits. However, heavy drinking and heavy smoking harm your immunity and can lead to various chronic diseases. While smoking has a direct impact on your lungs and your heart health, alcohol alters the makeup of your gut microbiome which is home to trillions of microorganisms performing several crucial roles for your health, supporting your immune system. Excessive drinking also damages the immune cells that line the intestines and serve as the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.

While all these elements play a major part in balancing the immune system, we cannot outrun the fact that every individual is different, and so is their bodily requirement. In times like these, the best way to safeguard yourself from deadly viruses is to balance your immune system, holistically. For long-term gain, it is best to know your body! Reach out to Team Metabalance and know more about Metabalance’s Immunity Boosting Program. Seek help from our experts and try not to be a victim of self-medicating! Metabalance’s #RejuvenateYourImmunity Program has been curated with the help of international doctors, virologists, and immunity specialists apart from researchers in collaboration with the Dabur Research Foundation and Althea Laboratories, and is sure to make your journey towards good health a memorable one!

Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions mentioned in the article have been written for general awareness and should not be considered as professional medical advice. We strongly recommend you consult your doctor or an expert before starting any fitness regime, diet changes, or making any lifestyle changes that affect your physical or emotional health.