Supports your immune cells.⁴

A non-balanced diet can negatively influence the immune system. Deficiencies or malnutrition can impair the immune response. However, this depends on many different aspects, from sufficient vitamins to sufficient secondary plant substances. For example, it has been found that a deficiency of individual amino acids can lead to a deterioration in immune function. This is because amino acids influence, among other things, the activation of many immune cells and are needed for the production of antibodies. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to a balanced diet and ensure that the body has all the necessary nutrients for an optimally functioning immune system.

Our immune system consists, among other things, of a large variety of blood cells, or white blood cells, called leukocytes. These cells make up a large part of our immune defense and are formed in the bone marrow. The main task of leukocytes is to defend against pathogens. If these cells do not function properly it has an impact on our entire immune defense. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the cells in our immune system.

Restful sleep supports our immune system. This seems to be common knowledge. Initial studies have looked into the question of why this is so and found that our T cells, which normally have the task of fighting pathogens such as viruses or bacteria, are less able to dock when there is a lack of sleep. This reduced function could be demonstrated even after three hours without sleep. Therefore, always listen to your own body and make sure it gets enough restful sleep.

When we suffer from constant stress, our immune system also suffers. This is because both our innate and acquired defenses suffer from this stress. This is because when we feel permanently overwhelmed at work or at home, this causes the number of immune cells in our blood to drop. Natural killer cells are also less active and T lymphocytes divide more slowly. Therefore, it is important to avoid prolonged stress and to find a balance in everyday life so that our immune system can function fully.

When you are physically active, the body releases adrenaline. This ensures that the defense cells multiply faster and become more active. Not only our natural killer cells and white blood cells, but also the T- and B-lymphocytes are increased in the blood. Then, when you stop exercising (and the adrenaline in your blood goes down), the number of immune cells in your blood also goes down. These repetitive, small stimuli during regular exercise train the immune system, which causes the lymphocytes to be more active and to eliminate harmful cells faster and better. Therefore, balancing exercise helps strengthen our immune system.

Few people doubt that there is a connection between body and mind. One of the best-known examples is the placebo effect. Here, the mere belief in taking a healing medication leads to an actual cure. But the extent to which the mind influences our immune system has not been known in detail for a long time. However, initial research now indicates that the happiness hormone dopamine activates certain parts of our immune system. When the brain releases a larger amount of this hormone (for example, because we are happy at the moment), significantly more phagocytes are on the move in the body. Not only that, but the number of antibodies in the blood increases noticeably. Thus, positive thoughts & emotions seem to have a positive effect on our immune system.