How to Boost Your Immune System to Fight Diseases
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many researchers and doctors to talk about the importance of a strong immune system. It has been emphasized time and again that if you have a strong immune system you can easily keep those abominable, microscopic invaders away from you or at the least be better prepared to fight infection. What is the immune system? Well, it is essentially your body’s internal police force. Confused? Your immune system plays a role similar to the police. Whenever an unwanted thief in the shape of harmful pathogens tries to get in, your immune system gets to action by sending a line of defense to your bloodstream or organs or muscles or your bones. The result is that you remain in good health while your immune system battles against and destroys germs.
Consequences & risk factors of a weak immune system
Sometimes your immune system may not be as strong as it should be. What happens when there’s no police force in a particular locality? Burglars and thieves, and other such anti-social elements will invade that area, colonize it completely, expand their group and bring distress to the peaceful dwellers in that area. The same happens to your body as well. Harmful pathogens of every kind like bacteria, viruses, parasites and other microbes will make your body their fond habitat and wreak havoc in all possible ways. In result, diseases will gain a strong foothold in you, thereby making you move from one disease to another without even getting the chance to recover in between.
Weakened immune system & diseases
Apart from the common cold and flu, a weakened immune system may make you fall prey to other diseases too. Some of the deadliest pathogenic diseases triggered by weakened immune systems include tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, tetanus, rotavirus infection, parainfluenza and of course, SARS. In this context, it is worthwhile to note that the recent coronavirus pandemic is one of the deadliest pandemics of the century and is a type of SARS infection. The pandemic has killed nearly 215,231 people worldwide to date and nearly 3,110,702 have been infected. The statistics clearly show the dangers of a pathogenic disease. The story has a positive side as well. There are patients who were infected by coronavirus but have recovered and gone home healthy. Now, how is it that some patients could defeat this aggressive virus while others could not? The answer, probably, lies in their immune system. Patients with a stronger immune system could fight the virus and could also respond better to the medications applied on them.
In other words, immunity power and immune response plays a vital role in giving you a disease-free, healthy life.
What does coronavirus or any other pathogen do to your body?
When you are attacked by any pathogen be it coronavirus or any other, what does it do to your body? Well, the pathogen makes your body its host and habitat and starts multiplying by disrupting the cellular machinery of some of the healthy cells of your body. The population of the pathogen starts exploding and you get infected and start getting the symptoms of a pathogenic infection. When it is the novel coronavirus that has invaded you, it will use its own novel mechanism to evade the defenses sent by your body’s innate immune system. Next a cytokine storm will rise within your body and will eventually lead to multi-organ failure.
Vulnerable groups
The elderly and those with underlying health issues like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, etc. are the most vulnerable groups with respect to the susceptibility of being infected with coronavirus or other pathogens. Most of these groups either have weakened or compromised immune systems or have an under-developed immunity.
Ways to boost your immune system
It is well evident that if you have a strong immune system, you can give your invader a tougher fight and can even defeat it in some cases. Here are some ways you can strengthen your immune system naturally:
Nutritious foods
Foods rich in essential nutrients can brace your immune system effectively. Researchers have established a connection between immunity and micro nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium, folic acid, copper and vitamins like A, B6, E and C. Also, scientific studies show that nutritional deficiencies could lead to weakened immune systems. So, nutrient-dense foods like spinach, bell pepper, mushroom, sweet potatoes, broccoli, blueberries, oranges, lemons, kiwis, mangoes, oily fishes, turmeric, ginger, garlic, dark chocolate, almonds and sunflower seeds are the best foods for boosting your immune system.
Adequate hydration
Water is very important to allow your immune system to function in full form. Water hydrates your body and helps in flushing out toxins from your system. Other fluids and beverages such as green tea, fefir and freshly extracted fruit and vegetable juices can also serve as effective, nutrients-rich and hydrating tonic for your immune system.
Herbs
Certain herbs can nourish your immune system and strengthen your immune responses. Herbs such as astragalus root, angelica root, andrographis, Japanese knotweed, Chinese skullcap, turmeric, ginger, licorice, milk thistle, ginseng, garlic and black cumin seeds can regulate the immune responses of your body and improve your resistance to all kinds of pathogenic diseases and infections.
Yoga
Yoga postures, pranayama and shuddhikaran kriyas too are considered effective in boosting your immune function. Practicing Yoga, according to experts, can detoxify your system and foster healthy lymph drainage. The result is a stronger immune system and a healthier body. The best yoga asanas for boosting immunity are Sukhasana, Uttanasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana and Tadasana. Kapalbhati is the best pranayama for boosting immunity.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is that rich tradition and healing science that claims to have in its repertoire remedies for almost all types of health issues known to mankind so far. So, if you are looking for Ayurvedic remedies for a stronger immune system, the most effective Ayurvedic herbs are ashwagandha, dasha mula kwath, guduchi, shatavari, yashthimadhu and amalaki. These herbs are said to strengthen all the fundamental constituents of your body – the ‘dhatus’ and by that way strengthen the immune response too.
