what is immunity?
Immunity is a complex biological system that can recognize and tolerate whatever belongs to the self, and to recognize and reject what is foreign
In biology, immunity is the capability of multicellular organisms to resist harmful microorganisms. Immunity involves both specific and nonspecific components. The nonspecific components act as barriers or eliminators of a wide range of pathogens irrespective of their antigenic make-up.
The immune system protects us from invading pathogenic microorganisms .
Some of the lifestyle factors that can lead to a strong immune system include:
- Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
- Deficiencies of micro-nutrients such as zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, and vitamins A, B6, C, and E may alter immune function.
- If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation.
- Getting adequate sleep (7-9 hours a night).
- Taking steps to avoid infection.
- Washing your hands frequently.
- Trying to minimize stress.
- Meditating
- Self-care routines
- Mindfulness journaling
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy bodyweight
For our purposes, our focus will be on how exercise and maintaining a healthy bodyweight affect the immune system.
Benefits of Exercise:
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Reducing blood pressure
- Helping control bodyweight
- Protecting against a variety of diseases
Physical activity may help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways.This may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu , or other illness. In general, exercising at a moderate to vigorous intensity for 60 minutes or less is optimal for the immune-boosting benefits of exercise. If you do this daily or almost daily, your immune and metabolic systems continue to strengthen, building on previous gains .
