Foods And Remedies To Strengthen The Immune System

Maintaining good lifestyle habits is essential to enjoy good health and well-being, but also to strengthen the immune system.

The immune system is, as its name implies, the defense system that protects the body from disease. It is made up of a set of cells, tissues and organs that work as a team and its most important task is to defend the body from external agents and infections.

So when defenses are lowered, we can’t deal with these agents. Thus, in certain situations, you may need remedies to strengthen the immune system.

Immune system problems

Immune system disorders can be divided into four categories:

• Acquired immunodeficiency : the cells of the immune system decrease as a consequence of external agents such as HIV.
• Autoimmune disorders : The immune system attacks its own cells by mistake, taking them for foreign substances.
• Allergies: processes that appear when the immune system reacts disproportionately to a certain stimulus.
• Cancer  of the immune system.

It is important to maintain good lifestyle habits in order to have a strong immune system with which we can deal with pathogens.

Foods to strengthen the immune system

According to popular wisdom and science, good lifestyle habits contribute to the proper functioning of the immune system. For this reason, there are those who consider that the moderate consumption of the following foods on a regular basis can contribute to their strengthening.

Garlic

As it is considered that garlic, due to its allicin content, could be able to prevent and treat various infections, there are people who consider that by consuming it daily, they could have an optimal immune system.

Garlic is a prominent ingredient in the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest and most recommended options that exist.

Experts indicate that within this type of diet garlic is favorable, however, they have not yet been able to verify the relationship established between its consumption and the immune system.

Probiotic foods

Probiotic foods are supplements that contain live microorganisms, mainly bacteria, but which are not toxic or pathogenic, but are part of the usual microbiota.

To modify the immune response, the adherence of probiotics to the intestinal epithelium is very important. If the adherence is good, they manage to prevent pathogenic bacteria from doing so.

However, their effect is not permanent, so they must be taken regularly. Some foods are rich in probiotics such as:

• Kefir.
• Miso.
• Yoghurt.
• Sauerkraut.
• Kombucha.
• Dark chocolate.

Remedies to strengthen the immune system

Under certain laboratory conditions, many plants and herbs have been shown to have potential for a variety of issues, such as relieving a discomfort or improving general health.

However, this does not mean that they can be used without judgment or in any way. You have to know when it is convenient to take advantage of them to avoid interactions and adverse reactions.

For this reason, health professionals advise caution when using natural remedies, even when trying to strengthen the immune system.

Popular wisdom indicates that the following plants are especially favorable for this purpose and recommends integrating them in the form of infusion into the diet, after consulting the doctor.

Echinacea

Echinacea is said to be a genus of plants that, in addition to reducing stress and fatigue, also stimulates the immune system. For this reason, there are those who consider them immunostimulant and adaptogenic.

Some varieties can help us feel energetic, while others can help us relax. Everything will depend on our needs.

Cat’s claw

The Uncaria tomentosa is a plant widely used by tribes of the Peru for various medicinal purposes. Therefore, it is not surprising that various properties are attributed to it by this region of the world.

One of the properties attributed to it is that it helps strengthen the immune system. Or more specifically: it helps increase defenses.

• As it is a bitter plant, it may not be well tolerated by some people.

• Its use is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation because it can alter the taste and production of milk and cause certain adverse reactions.

Plants with sedative effects

The stress it generates puts us on alert. And when we are on alert, we divert energy to the muscles and the brain, mobilizing the body for action. This makes us deplete the immune system and therefore makes us vulnerable to pathogens.

To strengthen the immune system, we must control levels of stress and anxiety. For this, there are those who take advantage of certain natural remedies, such as infusions of sedative plants:  valerian, linden, chamomile, passionflower and hawthorn.

Note: Although in the world of alternative medicine various natural remedies are recommended to strengthen the immune system, this does not mean that they are 100% effective or recommended for all cases. Hence the importance of always consulting with your doctor before consuming them.

Exercise, a great ally for health

We all know that you should exercise regularly. Sport gives us vitality, oxygenates us, puts us in a good mood and helps us maintain a healthy weight. Along with all this, physical activity helps the immune system to stay alert to avoid infections. 

Last (but never least), remember that maintaining good lifestyle habits will always be beneficial for your body. So bet on maintaining a good diet, abandon a sedentary lifestyle, move more and, in everything you do, take care of yourself.