The top inhibitors of a strong immune system are:
● Age
● Stress
● Poor nutrition
Our bodies naturally produce less and less of certain chemical compounds as we age. This decrease in production affects other critically needed components of good health. In addition to the reduction of needed nutrients, our bodies also experience less of an ability to absorb foods properly. Cellular response is slower. There is a decrease in the needed energy levels to run our cells.
Malnutrition has been shown to cause a weakening of our immune system. Malnutrition automatically implies major reductions in the needed levels of vitamins and minerals. That is why it is so important to maintain balanced nutrition daily. We should also reduce worry and stress from our lives (both internal and external).
Stress can be a killer. With a weakened immune system, we have given stress the steroid injection it needs to take control of our bodies. Stress leads to depression and anxiety. Stress adds weight around our middle. We have four times the number of receptors for the stress hormone, cortisol, around your waist. Cortisol loves to store fat. A little stress added today, and more tomorrow, can eventually lead to obesity and serious long-term health problems. Don’t allow others to control your emotions. You should control your emotions.
We should strive for nutritional balance daily in the foods we choose to eat. What happens when we don’t? Here are a few examples:
● An imbalance in glutamine compromises the immune system
● An imbalance in arginine compromises the immune system
● A deficit in vitamin B5 lowers levels of circulating antibodies
● Folate shortage decreases T-cells needed to fight infections
● An absence of vitamin B6 impairs T-cell formation
● An absence of vitamin B6 reduces blood lymphocytes
● Low levels of vitamins B1 and B2 weaken normal antibody response
● Low vitamin B12 levels impact immune system viability
● Low levels of iron can impair antibody response
● Low levels of iron seriously impact phagocyte function
● Copper deficiency is associated with an increase in infections
● Selenium and manganese deficiencies inhibit T-cells
● Selenium and manganese deficiencies inhibit phagocytes