At this point you are more educated about your immune system than you probably ever were. The immune system is strong, but it’s also delicate and requires proper support and management. Here’s another way to provide it with what it needs. Note today’s excerpt below.

The body requires energy to function properly. Carefully planned nutrition must provide a balance of energy and of nutrients.

  • Carbohydrates – our main source of energy, consisting of complex carbohydrates and simple sugars
  • Fats – one source of energy and important in relation to fat-soluble vitamins
  • Minerals – inorganic elements that occur in the body and are critical to normal functioning
  • Proteins – essential to growth and repair of muscle and other body tissues
  • Roughage (fiber) – the fibrous indigestible portion of our diet from plants that is essential to health of the digestive system
  • Vitamins – water and fat-soluble vitamins play important roles in many chemical processes in the body
  • Water – essential to normal body functioning, and a means to distribute other nutrients throughout the body; 60-70% of the human body is made of water

Immune system maintenance requires a steady intake of energy in the form of all the nutrients. Those who under-eat run a greater risk of contracting infections. Dieters taking in less than 1200 calories per day can also suffer from reduced immune function.

Overeating may also compromise the immune system’s ability to fight infection. Obesity is linked to an increased rate of infectious disease. Furthermore, obese people are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, which has been linked to alterations in immune function.

Additionally, highly fatty diets appear to depress the immune response, increasing the risk of infections. Reducing fat content in the diet can increase immune activity. Studies show this does not just affect infections but could also strengthen the type of immune cells, which can fight the growth of tumor cells.

Source: “Nutrition for Immune Deficiency.” http://www.altmd.com