In this article, we discuss fundamentals of immunology and how to strengthen the immune system with lifestyle factors to help mitigate the negative impact of viruses.

Basics of Immunology

• Life has been attempting to protect itself from harm since the dawn of biology.
• This protective system is known as the immune system.
• One of the primary aspects of the immune system is to differentiate self (components of one’s own body) from non-self (foreign bodies, such as viruses).
• The most primitive aspect of the immune system is known as the innate immune system and reacts quickly and non-specifically to invaders.
• A more recent evolution of the immune system is known as the adaptive immune system, which reacts more slowly but specifically than the innate immune system. It consists of B cells and T cells.

Lifestyle Factors for Optimized Immune Function

Important lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to functional immunity include:

Sleep and sleep hygiene:

Boosts T cell production and immune communication.

Proper Diet:

Provides needed nutrients for the immune system and prebiotics for the microbiome.

Exercise:

Increases immune competence, surveillance, and may delay aging of the immune system.

Stress Management:

Excessive stress can slow the function of both humoral and intracellular immunity.

Habitat and microbial balance:

Sanitize when needed but find balance in the biome of your surroundings to optimize immune function.

Clean air:

Use an air purifier that has been tested to remove viruses from the air.

Lifestyle factors have a powerful impact on our immune competence.

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