What is a balanced immune system?
The human body possesses an innate intelligence designed to govern and balance all its intricate functions — our immune system is one such system.
The immune system is designed to protect the human body against infectious disease, and it comes with three types of defense mechanisms — innate, adaptive, and passive. Ideally, everyone strives to maintain a balanced immune system.
During times of low immunity, the body will be easily invaded by bacteria and viruses, heightening the risk of infections. In addition, during such times, the body’s ability to recognize and combat malignant cells will be impaired and thus lead to possible tumors and cancers.
A highly overactive immune system will equally lead to the body developing diseases. So maintaining a balanced immune system is key to your health.
Five indications of a weak immune system
1. Weakness of limbs
Low immunity eventually leads to poor physical fitness. In addition, once the immune system is functioning poorly, the body’s physical condition deteriorates and develops coldness and weakness of limbs.
2. A predisposition to catching colds
Individuals who are sensitive to seasonal and temperature changes and readily catch a cold clearly show signs of lowered immunity. In addition, those who resort to treating their colds with medicine will, over time, develop intolerance toward the treatment, thus rendering it ineffective.
3. Experiencing constant tiredness
Another sign of low immunity is when a person receives a good night’s sleep, but awakens feeling tired, constantly yawns, and experiences fatigue throughout the day. Boosting one’s immune system is recommended to eliminate these symptoms.
4. Poor gastric function
Poor gastric function is usually a result of an irregular lifestyle or poor dietary habits. Although these may play a significant role, it is also partly associated with impaired immunity. Poor gastric function frequently causes diarrhea and constipation.
5. Slow healing of wounds
People with poor immunity will find that their minor injuries don’t heal fast, thus predisposing them to infections. Since the immune cells activate the reproduction of the skin, this helps to facilitate the healing of any wounds. If wounds take a noticeably longer time to heal, this indicates that close attention to your immune system is required.
4 factors to achieve a balanced immune system
1. Exercise regularly
Frequent exercise can boost your immunity by improving blood circulation, releasing emotional stress, evacuating toxins and waste, and strengthening your body’s immune system. Regular exercise, maintained on a long-term basis, will generally develop a more robust immune system.
2. Adequate intake of water
Water can enhance your metabolism and helps speed up the evacuation of toxins and wastes from within the body. It can also activate the immune cells and improve immune function. A daily intake of 2 liters of water is recommended for adults.
3. Avoid smoking and drinking
It has been found that the carcinogens in cigarettes and ethanol in liquor, when consumed frequently, will eventually damage your liver function and the immune system. Over time, this reduces the body’s ability to resist the invasion of viruses and bacteria, thus leading to the development of chronic diseases.
4. Maintain a positive mood
The immune function is affected by your spirit, which is controlled by your feelings and emotions. Suppose you always align with negative emotions and feelings. In that case, your mood becomes equally depressing.
Over an extended period, the cortisol level in your body will be elevated, negatively impacting the immune cells, and leading to a decrease in the body’s immune function.
3 foods that benefit your immune system
1. Garlic
Garlic is rich in allicin, which can inhibit bacteria and enhance the activity of your immune cells. It can also increase the number of macrophages and boost your immune system.
2. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are ordinary in winter, and many people are unaware of their beneficial qualities that can enhance your immune system. Vitamin A in sweet potatoes is vital in developing skin tissues and resisting the invasion of viruses and bacteria. Intake of β-Carotene from foods is the best way to supplement Vitamin A.
3. Fish
Fish contains unsaturated fatty acids and protein, which are necessary for maintaining normal physical functions. They supplement nutrition and boost the immune system of the human body. Fish can also improve the flexibility of blood vessels.
Translated by Audrey Wang and edited by Maria
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