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Health & Nutrition
Dimitar Marinov
Senior Product Researcher MD, PhD, Assistant Professor

How To Boost Your Immune System

A strong immune system is crucial for health. It can be undermined by factors like chronic inflammation, stress, insomnia, and poor lifestyle habits. However, it can be boosted through managing stress, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, sufficient sleep, and a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Essential supplements include vitamins C, B6, D, and zinc if not adequately provided in your diet. Promoting a robust immune system should be a top priority year-round.

 

The reigning COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us how important it is to be healthy and have a strong immune system.

And even though we all know that hygiene, masks, social distancing, and vaccination are currently our best options to deal with the virus, it is never too late to take the steps toward a healthier lifestyle and stronger immunity.

The reality is that many factors can disturb the balance of your immune system, and you may realize it only when you start getting frequent infections or other health issues. 

So let’s dive into the science of healthy immunity and discover the most tried and trusted ways to boost your immune system.

 


Signs of a weak immune system

The most reliable sign that indicates your immune system may be weaker is the occurrence of frequent infections. It signals that your immunity can’t deal with pathogens as quickly and effectively as it should.

 

Frequent infections


By definition, frequent infections are those that require treatment with antibiotics several times a year. The exact number depends on the severity of the illnesses. For example, more than four ear infections in a year or more than one case of pneumonia per year could indicate your immunity is low.
 
A weakened immune system can also make you more susceptible to fungal infections


Digestive problems 


Frequent digestive complaints such as abdominal cramping and diarrhea may also indicate that your immune system has trouble maintaining the balance of your gut bacteria and dealing with invaders. In some cases, these symptoms can be accompanied by nausea and loss of appetite.


Anemia


People with severely weakened immune systems may develop anemia, which leads to symptoms such as paleness and susceptibility to fatigue. The affected patients run out of breath quickly and find it exhausting to perform even simple daily tasks.
 

A weaker immune system in children also manifests as slower or delayed growth in height and body weight.

 

 

Immune system enemies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The factors that can weaken your immune system can be pretty diverse. They range from infections and medications to stress and unhealthy habits.

 

Chronic inflammation

One of the most common immune system enemies is chronic inflammation. It can hamper your immune system via complex mechanisms, making you more susceptible to infections. 

For example, scientists report that inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) play a vital role in initiating an acute immune response against pathogens.

Unfortunately, TNF-α can suppress your immune system when produced persistently due to chronic inflammation (1). On top of that, chronic inflammation increases your risk of many serious illnesses.

 

Medications

Many medications can also suppress your immune system. The list includes anti-inflammatory drugs for treating chronic inflammation, such as glucocorticosteroids and high doses of certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). 

One laboratory study found that Ibuprofen and other widely used NSAIDs reduce the ability of human cells to produce antibodies (2). 

Glucocorticosteroids are also widely used medications for suppressing the immune system in case of allergies, autoimmune conditions, and some malignancies.

Cancer treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy, is another factor with a potent suppressive effect on the immune system.

 

Infections

Acute inflammation due to specific infectious agents can exhaust your immune system and make you more susceptible to secondary infections. 

For example, pathogens such as the influenza virus can wreak havoc on your immunity and make you more susceptible to bacterial infections. 

Other infections that weaken your immune system include measles, mononucleosis, and AIDS.

 

Stress and insomnia

Both acute and chronic stress can have an impact on your immune system. That’s because immune cells have receptors for stress hormones such as cortisol, with well-known immunosuppressive effects (3).

Yet, chronic stress appears to be associated with stronger immune suppression than acute stress. Studies report that severe chronic stress that lasts for one month or longer is associated with the highest increase in the risk of infectious diseases (4). 

Other trials also confirm that psychological stress significantly increases the risk of infections (5). Scientists report increased susceptibility to different viruses associated with the common cold (6).

Inadequate sleep has been shown to cause a similar effect on the immune system as chronic stress (7).

Sleep is essential for your body’s ability to produce inflammatory molecules that help fight infectious agents such as antibodies. Therefore it may also take longer to recover from infection if you have trouble sleeping.

 

Unhealthy habits

Unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol use also hinder immune function. 

These habits lead to chronic inflammation, exhausting your immune system and making you more susceptible to viruses and bacteria. Smoking also increases your risk of bronchitis and pneumonia, perpetuating the cycle and overloading your defenses.

Overeating and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain and obesity, contributing to chronic inflammation and persistent elevation of TNF-α.

 

 

Give your immune system a fighting chance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are several things you can focus on to help the function of your immune system and bolster your body’s defenses:

  • deal with chronic stress
  • exercise in moderation
  • maintain optimal body weight
  • improve your sleep
  • quit smoking
  • reduce your alcohol intake

Reduce your stress levels

Dealing with chronic stress can have enormous benefits for your overall well-being, and your immune system health can really benefit from it. 

  • Studies show that learning relaxation techniques and practicing them during stressful periods can significantly improve the function of the immune system and its ability to fight germs (8).

  • You can combat stress via learning relaxation techniques, spending time outdoors, meeting with friends, owning pets, meditation, therapy, etc. 

  • Spending more time outdoors in direct sunlight will also boost your vitamin D production, which is vital for your immune system. Keep in mind to expose yourself to direct sunlight in moderation to avoid burning and skin damage.

 

Exercise regularly

Physical exercise is an acute form of good stress which stimulates the production of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules in your body. 

Regular moderate or high-intensity exercise leads to the production of more anti-inflammatory mediators that tend to prevail, which improves the regulation of your immune function.

Research shows a clear inverse relationship between moderate exercise training and the risk of infectious illnesses (9).

Yet, extreme intensities seen in athletes during competition training can have the opposite effects and increase the body's susceptibility to infections. Therefore, it is essential to exercise in moderation and focus on long-term consistency.

 

Maintain a healthy body weight

Obesity, more specifically visceral obesity, leads to chronic low-grade inflammation, which negatively affects your immune function and overall health.

Excess fatty tissue around the waist produces excessive amounts of inflammatory molecules such as TNF-α in your body, contributing to chronic disease and increasing susceptibility to infections (10).

  • Researchers also warn that obesity increases the severity of certain viral infections in those patients, such as the flu and COVID-19 (11, 12). 

On the other hand, being underweight and malnourished also increases your susceptibility to infections because your immune system lacks the resources to fight pathogens. 

For example, inadequate protein status will hamper your immune response to produce antibodies which play a significant role in your defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria.

Therefore it is vital to maintain optimal body weight and avoid obesity or malnourishment. The optimal body mass index (BMI) for adults is between 18.5 and 25 kg/m2. You can calculate your own BMI by dividing your weight (in kg) by the square of your height (in cm).

 

Get adequate sleep

Improving your sleep may help improve your tolerance to stress, body composition, weight loss efforts, and immune function. 

A recent study reported that quality sleep improves the function of your T-cells, which are a vital part of your immunity (13). 

T-cells can directly kill pathogens, activate other immune cells, produce inflammatory molecules and regulate your immune tolerance.

 

What you put in is as important as what you leave out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foods can affect your immune function beyond their effect on your body weight. Your diet is also a source of essential nutrients and antioxidants, which are vital for a healthy immune function.

The wide range of vitamins and minerals includes vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and chromium. Vitamin A, C, E, selenium, polyphenols, and carotenoids also act as antioxidants that help regulate your immune function and reduce chronic inflammation (14).

Your body can produce antioxidants on its own and use those in your diet to neutralize the oxidative stress of active radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (free radicals) (15). These radicals are a natural byproduct of your metabolism but also a tool used by your immunity to damage germs, pathogens, and cancer cells (16, 17).

Since the oxidative stress produced by your immune system can harm healthy tissues as well, your antioxidant needs increase. Thus, food sources of antioxidants can help minimize the collateral damage caused by the immune response.

Yet, keep in mind that consuming too many antioxidants may disturb the balance of antioxidants and radicals. Studies report that excessive antioxidant consumption can lead to an "antioxidant paradox" and do more harm than good (18, 19). 


  • Avoid overconsumption of certain antioxidants that can accumulate in your body, such as vitamin A, selenium, and vitamin E. Zinc is vital for your immunity, but too much of it can also have the opposite effect.

The balance between the essential fats in your diet can also either “make it or break it” regarding healthy immune function. These are the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids in your diet. 

All of them are important for producing inflammatory molecules and mediators by your immune system. Omega 3 is used primarily to synthesize anti-inflammatory metabolites, while omega 6 is converted into pro-inflammatory ones.

Thus, a diet that contains an optimal ratio between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids is essential for normal immune function. This ratio should be no higher than 4:1 in favor of omega 6.

Diets high in saturated fats may also lower your B-cell activity, immune cells that produce antibodies to fight germs and pathogens (20).

 

 

Vitamins to boost your immune system


Sometimes your diet may not be enough to support your body with all the nutrients it needs to maintain the function of your immune system at optimum levels. The essential micronutrients you may not be getting enough of include:

  • vitamin C
  • vitamin B6
  • vitamin D
  • zinc

Vitamin C: Physically active people, such as athletes, may have twice the need for vitamin C than others (21). So unless you consume fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal, you may need to implement a vitamin C supplement into your routine.

Vitamin B6: Another vitamin you should consider adding to your regimen to support immune function is vitamin B6. It plays a crucial role in the metabolism of proteins, and therefore, it is vital for the synthesis of antibodies that neutralize germs (22).

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin, so it doesn’t accumulate in your body, and there is no risk of toxicity with higher intakes.

Vitamin D: The most common vitamin deficiency is vitamin D. The only good dietary source of this vitamin is fatty fish. According to research, more than 80% of specific population groups have insufficient levels (23).

That’s why most experts worldwide recommend that everyone should supplement with vitamin D, especially during the winter months (24).

Various immune cells, including T-cells and B-cells, express vitamin D receptors and convert the vitamin into its metabolically active form (25). Low vitamin D levels have been shown to increase the risk of severe respiratory infections such as pneumonia (26).

Zinc: Zinc is another micronutrient that is important for healthy immune function. Unfortunately, only animal products such as seafood, red, and organ meat are rich in this vital element, so people who do not consume them regularly may be at risk of a deficiency. 

Studies report that the global prevalence of zinc is over 17% (27). If you do not consume these foods regularly, you may consider adding a zinc-containing supplement. Your needs increase further if you are physically active.


Giving your body the nutritional support needed for a healthy immune system and avoiding the things that damage it should be a priority, especially during the colder winter months. When you have a robust immune system protecting your body, you can get on with enjoying life and feeling great.

 

 

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and not intended for use as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any dietary supplement.

Dimitar Marinov
Senior Product Researcher MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
Dr. Marinov is a licenced physician and scientist with years of experience in clinical and preventive medicine, medical research, nutrition and dietetics. His research is focused primarily on nutrition and physical activity as preventive measures to improve and preserve human health. He is passionate about creating evidence-based content about various medical topics and takes great care in referencing every statement with high-quality evidence.
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